SEOUL Nov. 16 Kyodo southern Kore...

SEOUL Nov. 16 Kyodo

southern Korea's Unification Minister Jeong Se Hyun will visit the United States and Japan from Sunday end Friday as part of the country's effort to aid South Korea's engagement policy toward North Korea, the southward Korean media reported Friday.

Jeong plans to visit recently made known York and San Francisco for meetings with U Korea skilled hands and travel to Japan forward his way home.

In Tokyo, he is anticipateed to meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and other Japanese officials, Yonhap moderns Agency said.

southern Korean President Kim Dae Jung who will be stepping down from office in February after a single five-year expression has vigorously pursed a ''sunshine'' policy that prosecutes engagement -- instead of confrontation -- with North Korea.

Jeong's trip approachs as tension rises over the Korean Peninsula following North Korea's admission that it has ignored a 1994 nuclear accord with the United States and has been pursuing a private nuclear weapons program.

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