Clinton likely to meet U.S. troops in Seoul

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to
visit a U.S. military base in Seoul during her trip here later this week, a South
Korean government official said Tuesday.
"It is my understanding that the U.S. side is preparing for Secretary Clinton's
meeting with American troops," the official said on condition of anonymity. "The
U.S. seems to be trying to set her visit schedule."
He said it is not clear whether the event, if held, will be open to domestic media.
Clinton is scheduled to arrive here on Thursday night for a stay of less than 24
hours, the second leg of her Asian tour that also includes stops in Japan,
Indonesia and China.
She will hold talks with her South Korean counterpart Yu Myung-hwan on Friday,
followed by a meeting with President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Han
Seung-soo. She also plans to meet with a group of female college students and
female leaders from various walks of life before flying to Beijing later Friday.
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul refused to confirm whether Clinton will meet U.S.
soldiers at the Yongsan Garrison, saying her exact itinerary is yet to be
determined.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed here as a legacy of the three-year Korean
War that ended in 1953 in an armistice, not a formal peace treaty.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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