Obama meets South Korean president
November 19th, 2009 - 11:40 am ICT by IANS ( Leave a comment )
Seoul, Nov 19 (DPA) US President Barack Obama met his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung Bak in Seoul Thursday on the final leg of his Asian tour.
At the top of the agenda for their talks were their joint efforts to convince North Korea to return to multilateral talks about its nuclear weapons programme.
Other subjects for discussion were the US-South Korean security alliance and the planned ratification of a free-trade deal.
The US administration plans to send its special representative for North Korea policy, Stephen Bosworth, to Pyongyang soon. The direct talks are aimed at restarting the six-party talks, which North Korea broke off in April.
China, South Korea, Russia and Japan also participate in the talks.
On his first Asian tour Obama has already visited Japan, Singapore, where he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and China.
After visiting a US military base near Seoul, the US president is due to fly home later Thursday.
- Obama to send envoy to North Korea Dec 8 (Lead) - Nov 19, 2009
- US, South Korea urge Pyongyang to return to nuclear talks (Second Lead) - Nov 19, 2009
- US hints at renewing nuke talks if 'right signals' emanated from North Korea - Jan 15, 2011
- US wants North Korea to show commitment to denuclearisation - Sep 13, 2010
- South Korea, Japan for nuclear talks with North Korea - Feb 11, 2010
- Talks on North Korea should begin soon: US envoy - Jan 07, 2011
- S. Korea drops demand for N. Korea apology - Jan 29, 2011
- US nuclear envoy ends visit to North Korea - Dec 10, 2009
- US to hold N-talks with Pyongyang - Oct 20, 2011
- US concludes 'constructive' talks with North Korea - Jul 30, 2011
- Don't expect us to change, North Korea tells world - Dec 30, 2011
- US nuclear envoy travels to North Korea for talks - Dec 08, 2009
- Analysts doubtful about North Korea's "unconditional and early talks" proposal - Jan 09, 2011
- North Korea seeks China's help for battered economy, international isolation - May 05, 2010
- Clinton to address North-South tensions during Seoul visit - May 26, 2010
Tags: asia pacific economic cooperation, asian tour, barack obama, dpa, economic cooperation summit, korean counterpart, lee myung bak, military base, multilateral talks, north korea, north korea policy, nuclear weapons, pacific economic cooperation, pyongyang, ratification, security alliance, seoul, six party talks, south korea, south korean president
