S. Korean president to return home ahead of schedule

PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak plans to return home later Saturday, one day ahead of his original schedule, after Thai hosts indefinitely postponed the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) due to anti-government protests.

"Conditions are worsening faster than we thought," a South Korean official told
reporters, commenting on Lee's plan to cut short his itinerary.
The decision came after Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of
emergency in Pattaya, the venue of the ASEAN Plus Three Summit that also involve
South Korea, Japan and China.
"The Thai prime minister said he has delegated all his responsibilities to his
deputy prime minister and that he will place utmost importance on the safe and
quick return of visiting heads of state," the official told reporters.
Thousands of anti-government protesters barged into the meeting site, forcing the
Thai government to declare a state emergency in this resort and its surrounding
area.
Lee arrived here Friday on a three-day trip, during which he was also scheduled
to take part in the annual regional forum, East Asia Summit, also known as ASEAN
Plus Six Summit as it includes India, Australia and New Zealand.
Lee was set to leave for Seoul at 6 p.m. (local time).
Lee's decision to cut short his schedule came during a three-way meeting with
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, originally
scheduled for Sunday.
It was not immediately known whether the Japanese and Chinese leaders were also
changing their schedules.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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