WASHINGTON, Oct 29 (Reuters) - The top U.S. negotiator with North Korea will visit China, South Korea and Japan this week and could meet his North Korean counterpart during his visit to Beijing, a U.S. official said on Monday.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who has led negotiations to try to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear programs, is expected to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday, Seoul on Thursday and Tokyo on Friday, said the official.

He is expected to leave Tokyo for the United States on Saturday, added the official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to discuss the matter in public.

The official said it was possible that Hill might meet Kim Kye-Gwan, his North Korea counterpart, in Beijing but said there was no such meeting yet scheduled.

Under an Oct. 3 agreement among the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States, Pyongyang has agreed to disable its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon and to make a full declaration of its nuclear activities by the end of the year.

In exchange, North Korea is to receive energy aid and the United States may take steps to improve relations.

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