2010-07-28 11:09

SEOUL - South Korean and US officials are expected to meet next Monday to discuss additional financial sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), as previously announced by US Secretary of States Hillary Clinton, local media reported Wednesday.

Robert Einhorn, the State Department's special advisor for nonproliferation and arms control, will visit Seoul on July 31 or August 1 and meet with his South Korean counterparts next Monday, Seoul's semi-official Yonhap News Agency reported, citing an unnamed diplomatic source.

The American envoy is expected to meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and Wi Sung-lac, Seoul's top envoy to the six-party talks over the DPRK's denuclearization, Yonhap said.

The reported meeting comes after Clinton announced last week Washington's plan to impose fresh sanctions on Pyongyang as part of punishment for its torpedo attack on the South Korean warship Cheonan, which killed 46 South Korean sailors. The DPRK has repeatedly denied its involvement.

Clinton said the additional sanctions are aimed at halting the DPRK's illicit activities that help fund weapons programs and deterring further aggression from the country.

The US Treasury Department and intelligence authorities have reportedly identified some 200 bank accounts allegedly related to the DPRK.