Kim Yong-Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly or parliament, and de facto head of state, met and had "a friendly talk" with the Iranian foreign ministry delegation, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said.

The Iranians, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari, arrived in Pyongyang Thursday. The news agency gave no details.

North Korea is known to have sold missiles and missile technology to Iran.

Cooperation between the two countries has aroused concern as both are suspected of building up weapons of mass destruction.

The North fired a series of missiles in July 2006 and carried out its first nuclear weapons test in October.

The United States accuses Iran also of seeking a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists it is only developing nuclear energy to provide power for a growing population.