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23 October 2011 Last updated at 21:26 GMT By Imogen Foulkes BBC News, Geneva
The US wants North Korea to commit to nuclear disarmament before talks can resume The US and North Korea are due to hold talks in Geneva, aimed at restarting stalled nuclear negotiations. Six-party discussions involving North and South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the US broke down in April 2009 when North Korea walked out.
One month later, North Korea tested its second nuclear weapon, which was followed by increased tension on the Korean peninsula.
But diplomats are warning against expecting too much from the talks.
Although both sides say they want the six-party negotiations on North Korea's nuclear programme to resume, they disagree on the terms: North Korea has suggested they restart without preconditions while the United States wants a firm commitment from Pyongyang to disarm first.
But the fact these talks are taking place at all is a sign of improved relations since the dark days of 2009, when North Korea tested its second nuclear weapon, and 2010, when North Korean attacks along its disputed border with the South killed 50 South Koreans.
Washington and Pyongyang have just agreed to resume searching for the remains of American soldiers killed in the Korean war of the 1950s, and in July, the foreign ministers of North and South Korea met for the first time in three years.
So although it seems unlikely there will be a swift resumption of the six-party negotiations, the talks in Geneva are being viewed as another positive step.
At the very least, it is suggested, they may encourage North Korea not to proceed with a rumoured third nuclear test.
