A high-ranking Seoul official has set out for a round of calls to China, Japan, Russia and the United States members of the six-party forum, to coordinate differences amid large gaps in positions between Washington and Pyongyang.

The South Korean government is out to revive the stalled negotiations aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.

The latest round of six-way talks held in Beijing last June between South and North Korea, the U.S, China, Russia and Japan ended without much progress with Pyongyang flatly rejecting Washington's so-called comprehensive proposal.

The United States is calling for North Korea to first freeze its nuclear program for a three-month period in return for a security guarantee and energy aid from the international community.

North Korea for its part contends that nuclear disarmament must coincide with the promised U.S. compensation.

Agendas aside, prospects of resuming the ongoing multilateral negotiation process are also murky.

Two weeks ago Pyongyang ruled out attending working-level talks slated for later this month and went on to question the entire negotiating process, blaming Washington's hostile policy.

Against this backdrop the South Korean government is moving quickly to break the deadlock.

Seoul's Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck embarked on a trip to China, Japan, the U.S. and Russia with a coordinated proposal in hand, which reflects both Washington and Pyongyang’s stance.

Foreign ministry officials did not disclose details of the South Korean diplomat's latest proposal. But officials added Mr. Lee will fine-tune details of specific ways to induce Pyongyang to freeze its nuclear weapons program while coordinating a timetable for the upcoming talks.

All eyes are now on Mr. Lee's trip if it can lay the groundwork for future negotiations.

Arirang TV