North Korean nuclear envoy to visit US - Yonhap

SEOUL, Feb 23 (Reuters) North Korea's chief nuclear envoy is expected to visit the United States next month to discuss a deal designed to end Pyongyang's pursuit of atomic weapons, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported today.

Kim Kye-gwan may visit New York in early March and discuss with US officials benefits the reclusive state will receive for scrapping its nuclear arms plans, such as establishing diplomatic ties with the United States, Yonhap cited diplomatic sources as saying.

In a breakthrough deal, impoverished North Korea agreed earlier this month at six-way talks to seal its main nuclear reactor and source of its weapons-grade plutonium in return for an initial 50,000 tonnes of fuel or aid of similar value.

US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill has said he invited Kim to come to New York for discussions on easing tensions between the two adversaries.

No exact date has been set for Kim's visit, Yonhap cited its sources in the United States as saying.

REUTERS SSC KN1015