The US special envoy to North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, is to travel to Pyongyang before the end of the year. North Korea offered an invitation for Bosworth to visit the country a few months ago and Washington, after extensive consultations with its partners in the region, has decided to accept the invitation, said Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state, in announcing the senior diplomat's trip.

After abruptly quitting the six-party process aimed at North Korean denuclearization earlier this year, Pyongyang conducted a second nuclear test, launched a succession of missiles and took actions to reverse the disabling of its nuclear facility at Yongbyon.

When those blatantly hostile acts did not result in the international community acquiescing to its demands - the United Nations, rather, imposed stricter sanctions, which are being vigorously enforced by the international community - the leadership in Pyongyang suddenly switched gear and started its so-called "charm offensive". North Korea extended an invitation to Bosworth and early last month North Korean leader Kim Jong-il told the visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that it wanted bilateral talks with the United States and may return to the six-party talks if those talks are successful.

Following the recent trip to the United States by Ri Gun - North Korea's top nuclear negotiator - on which he met with his US counterparts, reports emerged that two rounds of direct talks between the United States and the communist state will be held before North Korea returns to the six-party process.

Crowley, during the press briefing announcing Bosworth's Pyongyang visit, sought to make clear that the upcoming trip is not part of the bilateral talks that Pyongyang has been demanding. "This is not the beginning of a bilateral dialogue. That is separate from the six-party process," he said.

Emphasising that Bosworth's talks in Pyongyang will take place in the context of the six-party talks, Crowley said, "From our standpoint, the purpose will be to facilitate an early resumption of the six-party talks and to secure North Korea's reaffirmation of the September 2005 joint statement."

The United States is sending a clear message that it does not view the Bosworth trip as the beginning of US-NK bilateral talks. However, Pyongyang most likely views this as the beginning of exactly that, and probably harbors different expectations.

Two sides coming to a meeting with different purposes does not bode well for its outcome. However, the decision to engage with each other is a positive step forward. Bosworth should use the trip to get Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks and to recommit to the denuclearization process. The United States should be wary of being "charmed" into giving in to surprise North Korean demands when the two sides meet.