U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, also the U.S. chief negotiator for the six-party talks, will visit Seoul next week to seek ways to resume the six- party talks on the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon said on Wednesday.

"The main purpose (of Hill's visit) is to make consultations on the nuclear issue and bilateral issues between South Korea and the U.S.," Ban told a news conference.

Hill is expected to meet with Chun Yung-woo, South Korea's chief negotiator for the six-party talks, and other related officials during his two-day visit on May 25, Ban said.

Ban said Hill's trip "reflects the fact that South Korea and the U.S. are closely working together to resume the six-way talks. "

Hill's visit draws attention as former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung plans to visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and meet with DPRK's top leader Kim Jong-il late June.

However, Ban refused to give comments on whether Hill's visit has connections with Kim Dae-jung's upcoming trip.

The six-party talks, composing the two the DPRK, South Korea, China, the United Sates, Russia and Japan, has been in a standoff since the last session of the talks ended in last September. The DPRK accused the United States of conducting economic sanctions against it and set the lift of the sanctions as a precondition for the talks.

Source: Xinhua