The European Union is considering a diplomatic intervention in the dispute between North Korea and the United States over the Asian state's reactivation of a nuclear-processing plant.
Both North and South Korea want the EU involved, and the proposed mission will be taken up by EU foreign ministers at a meeting on Monday, an EU official said.
"Discussion will focus on whether and at what level, and when, - if the first question is answered - there should be an EU mission to Pyongyang," she said, adding "We've never pretended to be a major player".
"But the North Koreans apparently see Europe as a neutral player and therefore we can be useful. There has been a lot of push, particularly from South Korea, for the EU to get involved.
Tensions have soared since North Korea reactivated a nuclear plant capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium and then withdrew from the nuclear weapons non-proliferation treaty.
Russia has suggested setting up a new "five plus five" group - the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Australia, the EU, Japan, North and South Korea - to help resolve the crisis.
There had been no response yet from the Koreans.
AFP