SEOUL - Glyn Davies, new US special representative for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), will visit South Korea next week, local media reported Friday.

Davies, formerly an ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, recently replaced Stephen Bosworth as the envoy for DPRK policy.

He will meet with South Korean officials, including top nuclear negotiator Lim Sung-nam, for consultations on the DPRK's nuclear issues, according to an unnamed government official cited by the Yonhap News Agency.

Davies will also travel to China and Japan.

His visit comes after the DPRK said earlier this week it will continue producing low-enriched uranium, in defiance of international calls to halt all nuclear activities.

The announcement is expected to put a damper on recent diplomatic efforts to revive talks aimed at dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear program, last held in 2008.

Washington insists Pyongyang abandon its uranium enrichment program and allow inspectors to verify the disarmament process before resuming the six-party negotiations.

Pyongyang, on the other hand, wants talks with no preconditions and accuses the United States of presenting an obstacle to the talks, which also involve South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.

Washington and Pyongyang officials recently held two rounds of rare talks over resuming the disarmament negotiations, but not much progress has been reported.