U.S. officials say the United States is replacing its pointman on North Korea with a full-time diplomat, ahead of rare talks next week with delegates from Pyongyang aimed at the possible restart of nuclear negotiations.

Officials are expected to announce later Wednesday that Glyn Davies, the U.S. envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, is replacing current appointee Stephen Bosworth, a former U.S. ambassador. Bosworth has continued to serve as law school dean at Tufts University near Boston since his appointment as special representative on North Korean policy in 2009.

Analysts say both the Davies appointment and the talks with the North Monday and Tuesday in Geneva reflect a desire by the Obama administration to press North Korea to commit to ending its nuclear weapons program.

The U.S. administration has resisted calls from China and North Korea to restart full, six-party denuclearization talks, until Pyongyang makes clear its intention to end its nuclear program.

The upcoming Geneva talks follow preliminary contacts between Washington and Pyongyang in late July that ended a long break in direct contacts between the two governments.