Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament, had "a friendly talk" with Saaeed Eleia Dawood.

Dawood is director of the organisational department of Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party.

Some US media reports have said an Israeli air strike in Syria earlier this month may have targeted a joint nuclear project.

There has been fierce speculation over the Israeli air raid, while Damascus has denounced what it called US "lies" that it was receiving nuclear material from North Korea.

Pyongyang has also angrily denied helping Syria, insisting it was sticking to an earlier pledge not to allow the transfer of nuclear materials.

In a landmark six-nation deal brokered in February, North Korea agreed to dismantle all its nuclear facilities and programmes in exchange for diplomatic concessions, energy and other aid.

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