The United States and North Korea pledged Friday to cooperate with each other to combat international terrorism, removing a major obstacle in bilateral ties and paving the way for Washington to remove sanctions against Pyongyang.
In a joint statement released by the State Department, the two nations said they share the understanding following three rounds of talks this year on the issue.
"The two sides underscored their commitment to support the international legal regime combating international terrorism and to cooperate with each other in taking effective measures to fight against terrorism," the statement said.
The agreement came three days prior to a landmark visit to Washington by North Korean special envoy Cho Myong Nok, the first vice chairman of North Korea's National Defense Commission and the nation's No. 3 leader.