S. Korea's deputy foreign minister due in US

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States will hold working-level consultations this week on North Korea and alliance issues, a government source said Wednesday.

"Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kyu-hyun is scheduled to visit Washington later this week," the source said, requesting anonymity.

On Friday, Kim plans to meet Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, and Daniel Russel, senior director for East Asian affairs at the White House National Security Council, added the source.

"They will discuss ways to improve the South Korea-U.S. alliance and how to resolve the North Korea issue," the source said.

It would mark Kim's first trip to Washington since he was promoted to the post in May.