US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the US has yet to be contacted by North Korea about working-level talks on denuclearization.

His remarks came as attention was focused on whether such talks would take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Pyongyang earlier indicated the negotiations would likely resume soon.

On Thursday, Pompeo told reporters in New York that the US was hopeful that there would be working-level meetings by the end of this month, but that it has not been able to make those happen and doesn't have a date yet.

US President Donald Trump has shown willingness to hold a fourth summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. But Pyongyang has yet to agree to hold working-level talks, and continues missile launches.

NHK