The International Atomic Energy Agency will meet next month, to consider asking the United Nations Security Council to intervene in the North Korean nuclear crisis.
At the nuclear agency's last emergency meeting two weeks ago, it urged North Korea to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Officials say if diplomatic efforts fail between now and February third, the matter is likely to go to the Security Council, which could then impose sanctions on North Korea.
Pyongyang has warned it would consider the imposition of sanctions a declaration of war.On Friday, North and South Korea agreed at cabinet-level talks in Seoul to work together to resolve the nuclear crisis. The statement, which included few specifics, pledged further high-level meetings in Pyongyang in April.
South Korean officials said the delegation from Pyongyang stressed that North Korea does not want war, but it refused to offer any concessions. Next week, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung is sending a special envoy to North Korea to discuss the crisis.