The US Department of State on September 23 confirmed that deputy secretary of state James Steinberg will go to East Asia, including Vietnam from September 25 to October 1.

US Department of State’s spokesperson Ian Kelly said between September 25 and October 1, Steinberg will go to Vietnam, Malaysia, China, South Korea and Japan.

His trip is in aid of exchanging viewpoints with high-ranking officials about “bilateral, regional and international issues” but will focus mainly on North Korea’s nuclear programme.

Steinberg last paid a visit to East Asia in June, several weeks after North Korea conducted a nuclear weapon test on May 25 having turned its back on six-sided nuclear negotiations in April.

VietNamNet/TTXVN