The Korea Herald

피터빈트

Biden sidesteps question about presidential ambition with joke, 'I'll answer in Korean'

By KH디지털2

Published : Oct. 16, 2015 - 09:25

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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday sidestepped a question about his presidential ambition with a joke that he'll give an answer in the Korean language.
  

Biden, who has been noncommittal about whether he'll run for president, was asked the question by a pool reporter while waiting for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to arrive at his residence for a lunch meeting.
  

"Mr. Vice President, Are you running for president?" a pool reporter asked.
  

"I'll answer in Korean," Biden responded.
  

As the reporter kept asking similar questions, Biden said, "I'm here to greet President Park. I'll talk to you all about that later."
  

As Park's motorcade arrived, Biden greeted her, saying "Madame President, welcome to my home. It's so nice to see you, and look at the weather you brought," gesturing to the cloudless sky on a sun-soaked day tinged with a slight chill, according to the pool report.
  

Park is the first Asian leader to be invited to the vice president's residence at the Naval Observatory since U.S. President Barack Obama took office.
  

The White House later said in a statement that Park and Biden reviewed recent progress within the alliance between the two countries and discussed the importance of strong regional relations and close coordination on common strategic interests.
  

"The vice president commended President Park for her efforts to improve inter-Korean ties and reaffirmed unwavering U.S. commitment to deter and defend against North Korean provocations," the statement said. (Yonhap)