The U.S. point man on East Asia arrived in South Korea on Thursday to discuss issues of mutual concern, including efforts to denuclearize North Korea.

Daniel Russel, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, is scheduled for a three-day stay in Seoul. He plans to meet with South Korea's vice foreign minister as well as Seoul's top negotiator to the six-party talks designed to disarm North Korea, according to the foreign ministry here.

This is Russel's first visit here since taking the position in July.

"Seoul is my first trip to Asia as the assistant secretary and that's not an accident," Russel said upon arrival at the Incheon International Airport, the main gateway to the capital.  

"I am looking forward to holding consultations with a number of counterparts in the Republic of Korea government," he said, adding that he will talk about issues on North Korea and a wide range of other bilateral matters.

Also on the table will be regional and global affairs including the recent chemical weapon uses by the Syrian government, he added. 

Having served at the White House for more than four years, the career diplomat is known to have played a key role in U.S.

President Barack Obama's efforts to reach out to the Asia-Pacific region.    Following his visit to Seoul, Russel is to visit Japan, Brunei, Indonesia and China before returning to Washington on Saturday, according to the U.S. government.

Meanwhile, Amb. Glyn Davies, the U.S. special representative on North Korea policy, has separate plans to visit South Korea, China and Japan next week, a diplomatic source said.

The visits by two key U.S. officials come as member countries of the six-party talks are scurrying to resume the long-stalled disarmament-for-aid talks.

The North has repeatedly expressed its intention to come to the negotiating table while its close friends China and Russia have voiced their support to resume the talks which have been stalled since 2008.

Two Koreas, the U.S., Japan, China and Russia are the member countries of the disarmament talks, which have been stalled since 2008. (Yonhap News)