The U.S. State Department says chief U.S. nuclear envoy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill will travel to North Korea on Monday to inspect the country's nuclear disablement progress.
State Department officials Tuesday announced Hill's schedule, which will take him to North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, and to the nuclear reactor in Yongbyon.
He is expected to meet with top North Korean officials, including his counterpart, Kim Kye Gwan.
Hill last visited the country in June in an unannounced visit.
He also is expected to go to Beijing for a likely new round of six-nation discussions about North Korea's nuclear program.
Representatives from five nations involved in talks on North Korea's nuclear program are in Pyongyang to observe the disablement of the country's nuclear complex.
Before departing for North Korea today senior U.S. diplomat Sung Kim told reporters in Beijing that representatives feel they are making progress. Kim was accompanied by officials from China, Japan, Russia and South Korea.
North Korea has promised to disable its nuclear facilities and declare all of its nuclear programs by the end of this year. In return, Pyongyang was promised energy assistance and political concessions.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
