WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) met through the so-called New York Channel on Monday, State Department spokesman SeanMcCormack said at a briefing on Monday.

    "There has been, again, today one, through the New York channel,diplomatic contact," McCormack said.

    "I think at this point I'm just going to say that it was a diplomatic exchange. Not going to get into the details of the diplomatic exchange. Only to say that it is part of the diplomaticprocess in anticipation of the second part of this round of negotiations," McCormack said.

    The spokesman stressed that the six-party talks are the forum for the two sides to negotiate.

    "But I will make clear that the six-party talks are the place for negotiation, and all of these diplomatic contacts take place within the framework of the six-party talks," he added.

    The six-party talks, aimed at resolving the nuclear issue of the DPRK, is to resume next week. Enditem