North Korea

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- An envoy delivered a letter meant for North Korean leader Kim Jong Il from U.S. President Barack Obama regarding resumption of nuclear disarmament talks.

U.S. Special Envoy Stephen Bosworth handed over the letter during his trip to Pyongyang last week, The Washington Post reported. The substance of the document wasn't disclosed.

The United States has been trying to convince North Korea to return to talks that Pyongyang withdrew from in the spring. Talks concerning North Korea's nuclear weapons programs were being carried out as the six-party talks with China, Russia, Japan and South Korea joining Pyongyang and Washington at the table. There hasn't been a formal six-party session for a year.

North Korea stopped consideration of the process last spring and then carried out a series of provocative tests, including missile launches and an underground nuclear weapons firing.

Bosworth's trip to North Korea last week was the first official contact between the United States and Pyongyang since Obama took office. Afterward the envoy said there was a "common understanding" with North Korea regarding its nuclear program.

Obama's missive isn't the first letter Kim has received on White House stationery. U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also sent messages to the North Korean leader while in office.