Diplomats from the United States and North Korea have completed their first senior-level direct talks in 18 months.

Both the heads of the North Korean and U.S. delegations said after the talks ended early Friday afternoon in New York the discussions were constructive and business-like.

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, speaking briefly as the North Korean delegation left the U.S. mission to the United Nations, indicated the two sides would maintain contact.

Special envoy Stephen Bosworth told reporters later “the path” was open for improved relations with the U.S., greater stability, and the resumption of talks on denuclearization. But he said North Korea must demonstrate “through its actions” that it will be “committed and constructive” partner.

The United States has described the talks as a way to see if North Korea is ready to meet its commitment to give up its nuclear weapons program.

In Seoul, South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, Wi Sung-lac, said he is not very optimistic that the meeting will yield quick results.

The United States, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea have been trying to persuade the North to give up its nuclear weapons. The North pulled out of six-nation talks on its nuclear program in 2008 and tested a second nuclear weapon months later.

The United States invited the North Koreans to New York after North and South Korean diplomats met earlier in the month in talks that appeared to cool tensions between the two governments.

Relations on the Korean peninsula have been tense for more than a year. North Korea is blamed for a torpedo attack that sank a South Korean navy ship, and a North Korean artillery attack killed 4 South Koreans. Seoul has demanded an apology, but Pyongyang denies responsibility for the ship sinking and says the South's army provoked the artillery attack.