WASHINGTON - A US special envoy for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea human rights issues?will visit China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan this month to discuss a range of issues, the State Department said on Tuesday.

As part of his regular consultations, Robert King will meet with senior officials from the governments as well as those from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and World Food Program in China, the department said in a statement.

It said King's visit runs from Aug 19 to 29.