US SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE WILL TRAVEL TO ASIA THIS MONTH FOR TALKS IN JAPAN, CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA ABOUT THE CRISIS WITH PYONGYANG, ACCORDING TO DPA. NORTH KOREA SPARKED WORLDWIDE OUTRAGE ON JULY 5 BY BREAKING A 1999 MORATORIUM AND TESTING A LONG-RANGE MISSILE, PROMPTING A FLURRY OF DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY, INCLUDING AT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL, WHERE JAPAN IS SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS. RICE WILL TRAVEL TO THE REGION FROM JULY 24-29 ON A TRIP THAT ALSO INCLUDES STOPS IN VIETNAM AND MALAYSIA. IN KUALA LUMPUR SHE WILL PARTICIPATE IN A MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) ON JULY 27-28.
