CIA chief to visit Seoul for N. Korea talks–report

SEOUL, South Korea — The head of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) will visit South Korea this weekend to discuss developments in North Korea after the death of its leader Kim Jong-Il, a report said Wednesday.

David Petraeus will meet security and intelligence officials to share information on the communist state following Kim’s death on December 17, Yonhap news agency quoted a Seoul government source as saying.

It would be the first time the former US military commander in Afghanistan has visited South Korea since he took up the post of CIA director last September. He will also visit China and Japan, according to the source.

The US embassy said it was unable to confirm the report and Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) declined to comment.

Kim was succeeded as leader by his young and untested son Jong-Un. Analysts are watching the regime to see whether the son can consolidate his power.

Petraeus plans to meet President Lee Myung-Bak, NIS director Won Sei-Hoon and Defence Minister Kim Kwan-Jin, the source told Yonhap.

He is reportedly also scheduled to meet General James Thurman, commander of 28,500 US troops based in South Korea.