The United States and North Korea have agreed to hold talks next week over food aid for the North and details regarding the repatriation of North Korean escapees from China.

U.S. State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Robert King would meet with North Korean officials on March seventh in Beijing for the talks.

Nuland said both parties would discuss issues including the port of delivery for aid and the management and monitoring of the distribution of the aid in North Korea.

The spokeswoman also stressed that Washington has consistently emphasized to the North that improved inter-Korean relations is one of the conditions for resuming six-party nuclear talks.