Chun in Washington for discussions on N. Korea, alliance issues

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's national security adviser, Chun Yung-woo, arrived here Tuesday for a series of meetings expected to focus on a strategy for North Korea.

Chun's first trip to Washington in his capacity as senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security comes about two weeks after Pyongyang and Washington restarted high-level talks on denuclearization and bilateral ties.

The U.S. said it is still in consultations with other dialogue partners on the next steps. The six-party nuclear negotiations also involve South Korea, China, Russia and Japan.

The State Department said Chun was invited by the U.S. national security adviser, Tom Donilon.

"I believe the talks begin today," department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a press briefing. "He'll also see Deputy Secretary (of State William) Burns here. So I think we need to let those consultations go forward."

She added Chun will also meet with Stephen Bosworth, special representative for North Korea policy, during his three-day stay.

Bosworth led the U.S. delegation to talks with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan in New York in late July.

Details on the results of the discussions remain undisclosed.

The North and the U.S. are apparently making some progress on humanitarian issues. The two sides reportedly agreed to allow the trial exchange of letters between Korean-Americans here and their families left in the communist nation after the 1950-53 Korean War.

Nuland said, "The American Red Cross or the International Red Cross is the lead international organization for trying to encourage and maintain family-to-family contacts, and they have an extensive program."

"We are strong supporters of that effort," she added, without elaborating.

The U.S. has also proposed talks with the North on the search for remains of American troops killed in the conflict.

Meanwhile, sources said Chun is also scheduled to have a meeting with Michele Flournoy, under secretary of defense.

"Meeting with U.S. officials, Chun is expected to discuss a wide range of issues on the alliance as well as the North Korea problem," a diplomatic source said.

International efforts to stop the North's nuclear weapons drive have been complicated by the revelation of a uranium enrichment program.

The U.S. is weighing food aid to the North and the separate delivery of emergency materials to help it recover from recent flooding.