U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit South Korea next week to prepare for the upcoming summit talks between President Park Geun-hye and her American counterpart Barack Obama, the Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday.

He is scheduled to stay here from Tuesday through Thursday for meetings with Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong.

His visit will be in line with the "high-level policy coordination" between the two countries, which are growing closer this year, said the ministry,."The two sides are expected to reaffirm their robust alliance and consult on President Park's visit to the U.S. in October," it said.

Park plans to hold a meeting with Obama in Washington D.C. on Oct. 16, during which they will likely focus on the North Korea issue.

Blinken will also travel to Japan and China on a regional tour following South Korea.

The deputy secretary, who served as deputy national security advisor for Obama, made a previous visit to South Korea in February, shortly after assuming the post. (Yonhap)