Clinton`s Asian tour schedule not yet set: State Dept.

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. State Department said Monday the
itinerary for U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's imminent visit to South
Korea, China and Japan has not yet been fixed.
Reports said that Clinton is visiting the three northeast Asian countries in
coming weeks to discuss the six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear
ambitions and other issues of mutual and regional concern.
"No announcement yet on any trip," spokesman Robert Wood said in a daily news
briefing. "We'll let you know."
Clinton's Asian trip is being scheduled to balance U.S. President Barack Obama's
scheduled European tour in the coming months to avoid any misconception that
Obama is sidelining Asia in his foreign policy priorities, according to reports
and officials here.
Clinton had brief telephone conversations with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu
Myung-hwan and her counterparts from China and Japan last week.
Obama also placed calls to Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Chinese President
Hu Jintao last week to discuss ways to cooperate closely on the six-party talks
and other issues of bilateral concern.
The new U.S. president has not yet made a call to South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak, although White House officials said such a phone call will soon be
made.
While on the proposed Asian tour, Clinton will not get in touch with the North
Koreans over the nuclear disarmament talks, Wood said.
"As far as I know, there's no plan at all," Wood said as to possible contact
between Clinton and North Koreans in any Asian capitals. "No intention or
anything like that."
Obama and Clinton have said they will continue pursuing the six-party talks, and
would not dismiss the possibility of Obama meeting with North Korean leader Kim
Jong-il in more direct engagement with the reclusive communist state, equipped
with nuclear weapons and long-range missiles that can reach the mainland U.S.
The six-party talks are in a lull as North Korea refused to agree to a
verification regime on its nuclear facilities in December.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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