SKorean President to visit US next week

Wednesday 10 June, 2009.

SKorean President to visit US next week South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak would travel to the United States next week to meet his American counterpart Barack Obama, the White House said on Tuesday. Lee's visit on 16th June comes in the wake of the nuclear test conducted by North Korea along with a series of missile launches in May in violation of the UN Security Council resolution in the regard. The Security Council members are grappling to arrive at a consensus on taking action against North Korea. Identifying South Korea as "a close friend and a key ally" of the US, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama looks forward to exploring ways in which the two countries can strengthen cooperation on the regional and global challenges of the 21st century. "The two leaders will confer on North Korea and will consult on a range of bilateral and other issues," Gibbs said. Responding to a question he said that North Korea has further isolated itself from the world because of its actions. "The actions that they have taken have further isolated them from the world. They are the ones that are stepping away from their own rights and responsibilities," Gibbs said. "We were talking about UN Security Council resolutions and agreements that they've made as part of the negotiating team," he added. (RA-09/06)