The United States will send a group of experts on Korean affairs to North Korea on Saturday for talks on the country's nuclear program, ahead of a visit by Washington's envoy, Yonhap news agency said.
Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. special representative for North Korean policy, is set to arrive in the communist state on December 8, for talks aimed at persuading the country to return to the six-nation talks on scrapping its nuclear program.
The South Korean agency cited a diplomatic source as saying the delegation, including the heads of the Korea Economic Institute and the Center for U.S.-Korea Policy at the Asia Foundation, will be arriving from Beijing, and will remain in Pyongyang until November 24.
"They are likely to meet with key North Korean officials involved in the country's nuclear program," the source said.
President Barack Obama announced Bosworth's upcoming visit after meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Seoul on Thursday.
North Korea abandoned the six-party talks in April, and has said a resumption will depend on bilateral negotiations with Washington.
The talks involve North and South Korea, the United States, China, Russia and Japan.
