The U.S.’s top diplomat dealing with North Korean affairs will arrive in Seoul for a three-day visit on Sunday, South Korea’s foreign ministry said Friday, in a visit which comes amid growing tensions on the peninsula and just weeks before Pyongyang’s self-declared end-of-year deadline for progress in diplomacy expires.

Stephen Biegun will meet with local counterpart Lee Do-hoon — as well as other top officials — the day after his arrival, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said.

“The two sides will exchange extensive views on the recent situation on the Korean peninsula and discuss ways to bring substantial