Envoys from the United States and North Korea met in Beijing Thursday morning for their first set of nuclear talks since the passing of Kim Jong ll Dec. 17 of last year. Thursday's talks are aimed at re-starting the six-nation talks - with South Korea, Japan, China and Russia - from which the North exited in 2009.

The international community is closely watching Kim Jong Un, believed to be in his 20s, who has vowed to continue his late father's policies.

"Today is, as we say, 'game day.' We will have an opportunity to meet with First Vice Foreign Minister Kim and his team," said U.S. envoy Glyn Davies, prior to talks with his counterpart Kim Kye Gwan, according to the Associated Press.

Mark Toner, State Department spokesman, said the U.S. is "cautiously optimistic."

The talks come just days after South Korea conduted live-fire tests off islands near the disputed North-South sea border.  The North threatened retaliation prior to the South's tests.

John Park, fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, told Bloomberg TV:

“The proposition is that by engaging North Koreans in talks, negotiations, this is an effective means by which the U.S. side can hopefully prevent future provocations by North Korea against South Korea.”

This is the round of talks since July of last year.