Seoul, Aug 14 (IANS): Key North Korean ambassadors stationed overseas are currently in Pyongyang for a joint meeting in which the country's verbal escalation with the US is expected to be discussed, officials said here on Monday.

"North Korea seems to be hosting what appears to be a meeting of foreign diplomatic missions' chiefs after calling its ambassadors to major countries back to Pyongyang," a government official told Yonhap News Agency.

However, the exact number of diplomats who have travelled to Pyongyang to attend the joint meeting is not known.

The Ministry of Unification's spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said in a press briefing that the meeting may be part of North Korea's regular gathering of ambassadors.

"North Korea held the 43rd ambassadors' meeting in July 2015 and (the latest meeting) seems to be in line with that," the spokesman said.

Still, the top envoys' meeting may deal with the difficult international circumstance the country is currently handling after its two recent tests of what it called intercontinental ballistic missiles that could reach mainland US.

The meeting may also be linked with the country's purported preparations for further military provocations, possibly a nuclear test or more missile launches, as the country has warned of more action.