Obama likely to visit Seoul ahead of Singapore APEC summit in Nov.: sources

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Barack Obama will likely visit
South Korea in November on his way to the annual Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum in Singapore, diplomatic sources here said Thursday.

It will be Obama's first trip to South Korea since taking office in January,
although he has met with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak twice, first in
London in April on the sidelines of the G20 economic summit and in Washington in
June.
In a daily news briefing, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that Obama will
attend the APEC forum on Nov. 14-15, adding "The president expects to visit other
countries during his trip to the region, and further announcements will be
forthcoming when those plans are, indeed, finalized."
Gibbs did not name South Korea, but many believe the major Asian ally of the
United States will be a stop on Obama's itinerary, along with China, Japan and
possibly Indonesia. Obama lived in Indonesia for years as a child.
While in Singapore, Obama "will explore working with APEC leaders to promote open
trade and investment, support economic recovery and sustainable development and
address key challenges facing the region and the world," Gibbs said.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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