Envoy Stephen Bosworth, standing with Clinton at a press conference in Washington, did not rule out meeting with his North Korean counteparts during his trip next week to Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing and the Russian capital.

Clinton said Bosworth would depart "early next week" to meet with Washington's partners and "to consult our next steps to move the six-party process forward."

The United States has been involved in negotiations with the two Koreas, Japan, China and Russia aimed at scrapping North Korea's nuclear program under a landmark six-party agreement signed in 2007.

The negotiations have deadlocked over a dispute with North Korea over how to verify disarmament.

"He will work closely with our allies and partners to convince North Korea to become a constructive part of the international community," Clinton said.

"We believe his involvement will facilitate high-level involvement with North Korea and our other partners and enhance our efforts to move forward in the six party process," she said.

His work will also help "to realize our goal of the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner," Clinton said.

Bosworth did not rule out talks with North Korean officials during his trip.

"Obviously we plan to engage with north Korea. The question as to whether we're going to engage with them on this particular trip remains to be decided," Bosworth said.

"That will depend upon our consultations in the region and it will depend upon what we hear back from the North Koreans," he said

During a February 20 stop in Seoul as part of a tour of Asia, Clinton named Bosworth, an academic and former diplomat who served as US ambassador to South Korea, to a new post of special representative for North Korea.

Clinton, who chose Asia for her maiden overseas tour as chief US diplomat, said Bosworth would be the senior official handling North Korean issues, reporting to her and President Barack Obama.

She said Washington needs a seasoned "diplomat to lead our efforts to stem the risk of North Korea's nuclear ambitions and the proliferation of sensitive weapons technology, and its human rights and humanitarian challenges."

Clinton praised the "great dedication" of Christopher Hill, the outgoing chief US nuclear negotiator with North Korea who accompanied her to Seoul.

She said senior State Department official Sung Kim, who was closely involved in negotiations along with Hill, would be the special envoy to the six-party talks on the North's denuclearization.

Kim, who is due to travel with Bosworth, would continue to lead day-to-day efforts.

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