U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken will soon travel to South Korea to discuss North Korea and agenda items for the summit between President Park Geun-hye and her American counterpart Barack Obama, a diplomatic source said Friday.

   It is a part of his regional tour that will also take him to Japan and China.

   "He plans to visit Seoul early next month. South Korea and the U.S. are fine-tuning a specific schedule," the source told Yonhap News Agency. "A broad range of issues on regional security and the alliance will be discussed."

   The North is apparently gearing up to launch a long-range rocket to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of its powerful communist party on Oct. 10.

   Also, there is the possibility of another nuclear test, given the cycle of the North's provocations.

   The North Korea issue is expected to top the agenda in the Park-Obama summit to be held in Washington on Oct. 16.

   Blinken, who served as deputy national security advisor for Obama, made his last visit to South Korea in February. (Yonhap)