Beijing: North Korea and the United States have promised to start bilateral talks onestablishing diplomatic relations, a step that could ease tensions especiallyin Northeast Asia.

"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United Stateswill start bilateral talks aimed at resolving pending issues and moving towardsfull diplomatic relations," a joint statement released at the end ofsix-days of intense negotiations during the current round of six-party talkssaid here.

The United States will beginthe process of removing the designation of North Korea as a state-sponsor of terrorism and advance theprocess of terminating the application of the 'Trading with the Enemy Act' withrespect to Pyongyang,the joint statement says.

In his State of the Union address in 2002, US President George W. Bush hadnamed North Korea, Iran and Iraq among the 'axis of evil.' Bushhas often severely criticised North Korea's top leader, Kim Jong-il calling him"the world's worst violator of human rights".

Tensions between the United Statesand North Korea have beenrunning high since, October 2002, when US Assistant Secretary of State JamesKelly informed North Korean officials that the United States was aware that DPRKhad a programme underway to enrich uranium for use in nuclear weapons.Initially Pyongyang denied this, but laterconfirmed the veracity of the USclaim.

The fifth round of the six-party talks, which groups North Korea, South Korea,the United States, China, Japan and Russia, concluded in Beijing today topeacefully dismantle Pyongyang's weapons-oriented nuclear programme.