The Korea Herald

피터빈트

S. Korea, U.S. in close contact over Obama's Asia trip plan

By 정주원

Published : Feb. 4, 2014 - 17:06

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South Korea and the United State are in close communication over U.S. President Barack Obama's potential trip to Seoul during his planned visit to Asia in April, the foreign ministry here said Tuesday.

"(Seoul) is closely communicating with the U.S. side," foreign ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young said in a briefing in response to a question over the April visit.

Government sources have earlier said Obama may travel to Seoul and Beijing in April to hold bilateral summits during his planned visit to the Asia region.

The spokesman, however, refused to confirm the visit, only saying that "According to the U.S. government, nothing has been determined yet regarding President Obama's visit, including what countries he will visit."

The two allies are in discussion to schedule U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to the Asia region expected later in the month, Cho also said, adding that he will announced the plan as soon as the final decision is made.

Kerry's planned Seoul trip is expected to focus on finding ways to denuclearize North Korea and discussing Northeast Asian security issues.

"North Korea should give up its policy of seeking both nuclear (arms) development and economic development and choose the right path," Cho said. He urged the communist country to follow the example of Iran, which joined denuclearization talks and took steps to disarm. (Yonhap News)