Sources in China say U.S. President Barack Obama has proposed that if North Korea returns to the six-party talks and begins dismantling its nuclear program, he is willing to establish a liaison office in Pyongyang.

Beijing sources close to the North Korean issue said Friday said that special envoy Stephen Bosworth, while on his recent visit to North Korea, delivered a personal letter from Obama containing this message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

According to the sources, the liaison office would be part of the preliminary stages of establishing official diplomatic ties between the North and the U.S. and would be on a lower level than a representative office.

If the liaison office is set up, discussions on the forging of diplomatic ties and the signing of a peace accord are expected to begin shortly thereafter.

Regarding the timing, both the North’s return to the six-party talks and the opening of the liaison office are expected to occur sometime in the first half of next year.