MOSCOW/SEOUL -- Russia's top envoy on North Korean nuclear issues will visit South Korea this week and hold talks with officials on the subject, sources said Monday.

Vice Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, who is Russia's top negotiator on North Korea's nuclear weapons program, is scheduled to arrive in Seoul on Sunday for a three-day visit to attend a Russia-related event here, according to the diplomatic sources.

During the visit, the Russian diplomat will also meet with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon, the special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, as well as with Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu, the sources said. 

The nuclear envoys are expected to delve into how to induce North Korea's return to the table for negotiations on discarding its nuclear program, as an on-going hiatus in North Korea's nuclear and missile tests is fueling hopes for dialogue.

The Russian diplomat is also expected to communicate with the South Korean officials Russia's perspective on how to denuclearize North Korea, as well as the outcome of the recent Russia visits by Choe Son-hui, director-general of the North American department of North Korea's foreign ministry.

The visit comes as Lee accelerates consultations with his American counterpart Joseph Yun. Following their meeting on South Korea's Jeju Island last week, they are set to meet again in the United States later this month. (Yonhap)