U.S. officials to meet with North Koreans The North Korean flag flies at half-mast over its embassy in Beijing December 19, 2011. WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A delegation that includes U.S. officials is headed to Beijing to meet with officials from North Korea, the U.S. State Department announced. Glyn Davies, U.S. special envoy for North Korean policy, leads a delegation to meet with North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kwe Gwan in Beijing next week. "This meeting will continue the discussions that took place in July 2011 in New York and October 2011 in Geneva," the State Department said. Washington has tried to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. North Korea has tested several nuclear devices with limited success in recent years. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il died of an apparent heart attack in December. U.S. ally South Korea went on high alert after the announcement. Kim Jong Un, the late leader's youngest son, took control over North Korea after his father died. U.N. human rights officials during a fact-finding mission to the region called on the country's new leaders to look to Myanmar as a model for engagement. Myanmar since 2010 elections has released hundreds of political prisoners and allowed opposition leaders such as Aung San Suu Kyi to take part in the political process.