WASHINGTON: The US State Department confirmed Friday that it has authorized the issuance of visas to a delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to attend meetings in the United States.

Ri Gun is deputy representative of the DPRK at the six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula.

Kelly made the statement in response to earlier media reports that Ri has been granted a visa to attend conferences to be held in California and New York separately.

A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told media here on Friday that Ri is expected to meet a senior US diplomat during his stay in the United States.

The six-party talks involve China, the United States, the DPRK, Russia, South Korea and Japan.