U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan plans to tour Japan, China, South Korea and North Korea in late January, informed sources said Thursday.

The sources said, however, that no specific dates for the East Asia trip have been set because the New York-based world body is only beginning to coordinate Annan's schedule with the four nations

If a visit to Japan is realized, Annan will meet with Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and other political leaders to discuss, among other topics, the role the U.N. should play in ensuring world peace and prosperity in the new century, the sources said.