The U.S. State Department's top Korea specialist plans to witness the destruction of the cooling tower at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear reactor.

Sung Kim, director of the State Department's Office of Korean Affairs, plans to go to the North through the truce village of Panmunjeom on Thursday. The cooling tower is set to be demolished the following day.

He's also expected to discuss with North Korean officials the submission of their country's nuclear declaration and the schedule for subsequent six-party talks.