Kerry Agenda to Focus on North Korea Tension, Syria

STATE DEPARTMENT – Secretary of State John Kerry travels to Europe, the Middle East and Asia next week, where he is expected to hold talks on issues including the upcoming U.N.-led political talks on Syria and tensions with North Korea.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said Friday that Kerry will travel to Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Laos, Cambodia and China.

Kerry’s visit to China comes at a time when both Washington and Beijing have raised concerns about North Korea’s test last week of what it said was a nuclear weapon.

Beijing, a crucial ally to Pyongyang, criticized the test, and the U.N. is considering additional penalties against North Korea.

In Switzerland, Kerry will meet with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and attend the World Economic Forum, a group whose membership includes some of the world’s top corporations and global enterprises.

Kerry is currently in London, where he has held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubier on issues including the rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran.