Hill rejects N. Korea envoy job

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Christopher Hill, the Bush administration's envoy in the six-party talks, has declined an offer to be an envoy to North Korea.

The post, special envoy to the Communist state, is a new one proposed by President-elect Barack Obama, Radio Free Asia said.

Hill currently serves as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and chief nuclear envoy. Diplomatic sources said Hill will probably stay in that job and eventually move to a higher position in the State Department.

Another source suggested Hill turned down the special envoy job because the position carries less rank that his current job.