Korea's top diplomat to visit Italy, Malta for talks this week

South Korea's top diplomat Yun Byung-se will fly to Europe this week to hold talks with his counterparts in Italy and Malta as part of an ongoing effort to drum up international pressure against North Korea's nuclear program, the foreign ministry said Thursday.

The trip will allow Yun to sit down for talks with Italy's Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni and his Maltese counterpart George William Vella on Friday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The trip will mark the first time in 13 years that South Korea's foreign minister will be in Italy.

The focus of the Rome meeting will be on expanding economic partnerships, as well as upgrading their collaboration in responding to North Korea's nuclear weapons development and human rights violations, the ministry noted.

Italy has been recently elected for a seat at the United Nations Security Council from 2017-18, the ministry pointed out.

Yun's visit to Malta is a first by a South Korean foreign minister and is expected to lay the groundwork for increased cooperation with the island nation and European Union member in connection with its sanctions efforts against North Korea, the ministry also said.

"Various challenges that Europe is facing will also be discussed, including terrorism and violent extremism, as well as refugee issues," according to the ministry.

Yun will head home after hosting a conference with South Korea ambassadors posted in the European region Saturday, it added. (Yonhap)