SEOUL - North Korea signed a new accord on economic and technical cooperation with China on Thursday, state media said as the impoverished communist country struggles to recharge its faltering economy.

The accord was signed in Pyongyang between the North`s foreign trade minister Ri Ryong-Nam and Chinese ambassador to Pyongyang Liu Hongcai, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, without disclosing details.

China is the North`s sole major ally and its main supplier of energy and food. The two sides have signed a series of agreements on cooperation in economic, technological and other fields.

Reports say China is considering offering the North more economic aid if it agrees to return to six-nation nuclear disarmament talks chaired by Beijing.

The new accord came after a Chinese delegation led by assistant foreign minister Hu Zhengyue visited Pyongyang.

On Thursday Hu met Kim Yong-Il, director of the international department of the communist party`s central committee, KCNA said.

The trip comes amid high tensions in the region over the sinking of a South Korean warship near the disputed inter-Korean border with the loss of 46 lives.

North Korea vehemently denies any role in sinking the Cheonan corvette in March.

US and South Korean forces Wednesday wrapped up a four-day naval and air exercise -- the first in a series -- which they said was intended to warn the North against further attacks.

BDST: 16:26 HRS, July 29, 2010