North Korea's nominal head of state Kim Yong-Nam will visit Malaysia from March 3 to 5 for talks with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the government said today.

Kim, who as the head of North Korea's national assembly ranks second to supreme leader Kim Jong-Il, will arrive after a visit to Thailand starting Thursday, a Malaysian government spokeswoman told AFP .

He will hold talks with Mahathir and senior government officials on the second day of his visit, but officials declined to reveal details of the agenda which is to end with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

He is also expected to have an audience with King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.

Kim is also scheduled to visit the world's tallest buildings, the Petronas Twin Towers, in Kuala Lumpur. (AFP)