Wendy R. Sherman, a top U.S. State Department official, will visit South Korea next week to discuss alliance issues, the department announced Friday.

The under secretary for political affairs plans to meet with a range of senior officials on Tuesday to "explore how to expand the depth and breadth of our alliance," the department said in a press release.

"The visit will help maintain the positive momentum in the relationship" following President Lee Myung-bak's state visit to Washington last month, it added.

Sherman is also scheduled to visit Japan and China during her first Asia trip, slated for Nov. 20-23, since she took up the post in September, according to the department.

(Yonhap News)