U.S. diplomat to discuss N. Korea's nukes

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- North Korea's resumption of nuclear activities will be discussed during a mission to the Koreas, China and Japan, the U.S. State Department said Monday.

Christopher Hill, assistant secretary of state, will begin his visit to the region Tuesday in Seoul, followed by visits to Pyongyang, North Korea, Beijing and Tokyo, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said.

"(We're) very concerned about some of the reversal of disablement activities that the North has been engaged in," Wood said. "And (Hill) obviously wants to consult with his counterparts in the region out there to see what our next steps are going to be with regard to a response to what the North is doing."

U.S. Secretary Condoleezza Rice thought it was important to send Hill to the region, particularly Pyongyang, "to get a sense on the ground as to what's going on and obviously to talk with North Korean officials about why they've taken the steps they've taken," Wood said.

North Korea said it would restart the Yongbyon facility because the United States has not removed the country from its list of terrorism-sponsoring states. The International Atomic Energy Agency removed surveillance equipment and security seals from the facility at Pyongyang's request.