US envoy on DPRK to visit China, ROK, Japan  

美国宣布朝鲜人权问题特使下周访华

A photo of Robert King. [File photo: www.state.gov]

Washington (CNS) -- The US special envoy for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) human rights issues will visit China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan this month to discuss a range of issues, the State Department said on Tuesday.

As part of his regular consultations, Robert King will meet with senior officials from the government as well as from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and World Food Program in China, from Aug 19 to 21, to discuss human rights and humanitarianism, the department said in a statement.

Then King will visit ROK between Aug 22 and 27, where he is to meet officials and defectors from DPRK, it said.

King will arrive in Japan on Aug 28 and meet senior officials from the Foreign Ministry, which will conclude his Asia visit.

The Asia visit was planned in May, but canceled shortly before King set out.

ROK media said the cancellation was related to US citizen Kenneth Bae, who was sentenced in April to 15 years in a labor camp in DPRK.

According to the latest report from ROK media, Bae is suffering from serious deterioration in his health and cannot walk.