The British Foreign Office says junior foreign minister Bill Rammell will make an unprecedented visit to North Korea next month to discuss Pyongyang's human rights record and controversial nuclear program.

The office said Tuesday that Rammell's trip will mark the first time for a British government official to visit the communist state. The exact date of the trip has yet to be announced.

During his visit to the reclusive state, Rammell is scheduled to meet North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun and other senior officials.

In a statement, Rammell said that Britain "genuinely wants to engage with North Korea," adding that he would press the North for progress in its nuclear standoff.

Britain established diplomatic relations with Pyongyang in December 2000.