S.Korea's top nuclear envoy to visit China

SEOUL - South Korea's top nuclear envoy will travel to China later this week for talks over the nuclear issues concerning Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the foreign ministry said here Tuesday.

Lim Sung-nam, who represents South Korea at six-party talks aimed at dismantling the DPRK's nuclear program, will meet with his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei during a two-day visit starting Wednesday.

The two are expected to discuss developments in the DPRK and bilateral cooperation on nuclear issues, the ministry said.

The disarmament negotiations, which also involve the United States, Japan and Russia, were last held in December 2008.

Pyongyang walked out of the talks in April 2009 in protest of UN sanctions following its missile launch, but has expressed its wish to return to the negotiating table.