A delegation of senior Chinese officials from the communist party will visit the nation early next month as part of a regional tour.

Li Changchun, fifth in the hierarchy of the Communist Party of China (CPC), will lead the delegation’s visit to the nation, which starts April fourth.

The delegation will include six minister-level officials, including the head of the CPC's international department, Wang Jiarui.

During their four-day stay in South Korea, the delegates are scheduled to meet President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Han Seung-soo. They will also tour factories in the southern industrial city of Ulsan.

The delegation’s planned visit comes between April fourth and eighth, which is the window released by North Korea for its planned rocket launch.