ID :
382755
Wed, 10/07/2015 - 04:52
Auther :

S. Korean, U.S. officials meet over N. Korea, Park-Obama summit

SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- Top diplomats of South Korea and the United States met in Seoul Tuesday to discuss security issues related to North Korea and joint preparations for President Park Geun-hye's upcoming summit with her U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken held talks with Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong, shortly after arriving here for a three-day visit. The No. 2 U.S. diplomat is on a regional tour that also includes stops in Japan and China. South Korea and the U.S. have been in close talks amid concerns North Korea may launch a long-range ballistic missile or conduct a fourth nuclear test around the 70th founding anniversary of its ruling Workers' Party on Oct. 10. Blinken's visit also comes ahead of Park's visit to Washington, during which she is scheduled to hold summit talks with Obama on Oct. 16. "This visit, of course, is very significant and timely," Cho said of Blinken's visit at the start of their talks. "And given the evolving situation relating to North Korea, our two countries need to demonstrate that our alliance is most robust." Blinken's visit earlier in the day to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas "demonstrated just that," he added. On his trip to the DMZ, the deputy secretary said it was "quite extraordinary," saying he had lunch with Korean and American soldiers there who are the "very embodiment of our alliance." "The situation with North Korea is a concern to both of us," he said. On the upcoming summit, he added, "We are very much looking forward to the visit of President Park. We're determined to make it a successful visit." It is Blinken's second visit to South Korea as deputy secretary of state following his first visit in February. hague@yna.co.kr (END)

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