WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Negotiators from the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) met in Berlin on Tuesday to discuss how to resume the six-party talks, U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said on Tuesday.

    U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill and DPRK's negotiator Kim Kye-Gwan attended the meeting and discussed how to re-start the six-party talks and "ensure those (talks) would be productive," Casey said.

    During the round of six-party talks in September 2005, the DPRK signed a statement agreeing to give up its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic aid and security guarantees from the United States and other countries. However, the DPRK refused to return to the talks as a result of U.S. financial sanctions.

    Under pressure, the DPRK returned to the talks in December held in Beijing. However, the talks failed to make progress.