President Roh Moo-hyun will depart for South America Friday.

He is slated to make state visits to Argentina and Brazil as well as attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Chile on November 20th.

During the two-day APEC forum, Roh will explain Seoul's efforts aimed at resolving North Korea's nuclear issue and seek the international community's support toward that end.

Roh is also expected to seek APEC members' help to ensure Korea's successful hosting of the 2005 APEC summit meeting set to take place in the port city of Pusan.

On the sidelines of the APEC meeting, Roh is scheduled to hold separate summit talks with U.S President George W. Bush and discuss Pyongyang's nuclear standoff, the six-party nuclear talks and the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

Roh will also meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin to exchange views on Korean Peninsular affairs and ways to strengthen cooperation in economic and trade sectors.

Before launching his official South America tour, Roh will visit Los Angeles for two days from Friday and deliver an address at a meeting of a civic organization, the World Affairs Council.