North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho says the North has requested the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to send monitors to observe the suspension of his nation's uranium enrichment program.

Ri made the remark to reporters in Beijing on Monday after meeting with China’s chief delegate to the six-way nuclear talks, Wu Dawei. Ri’s request is in line with agreements the North and the U.S. reached during their third round of high-level talks held last month.

The IAEA confirmed that it received the invitation from the North last Friday. The UN agency said it will consult the North and other related countries on details over the planned visit of IAEA inspectors to the communist state.