Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. and North Korea have agreed to hold two rounds of formal talks before resuming multilateral negotiations on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, Foreign Policy reported.

The agreement came at last week’s discussions between Sung Kim, the State Department’s special envoy to the six-nation talks, and North Korea’s lead nuclear negotiator Ri Gun, the magazine reported on its Web site, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

Kim Jong Il’s regime also agreed to a U.S. request that Stephen Bosworth, the special representative for North Korean policy meet with North Korea’s first vice foreign minister Kang Sok Ju, Foreign Policy said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bomi Lim in Seoul at blim30@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 3, 2009 18:45 EST