S. Korea's vice foreign minister due in Africa this week

SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Shin Kak-soo will
embark on a four-nation Africa tour this week, foreign ministry officials said
Monday, amid efforts to strengthen the country's diplomatic ties with African
nations.
Shin will depart Wednesday for Congo, the first leg of his trip that will include
visits to South Africa, Ghana and Kenya, according to ministry spokesman Kim
Young-sun.
"Vice Minister Shin's trip to four African nations is part of efforts to follow
up on the second South Korea-Africa forum held in November and strengthen the
country's ties with the African nations," Kim told a press briefing.
The announcement of Shin's trip to Africa came hours after Foreign Minister Yu
Myung-hwan said the country will work to strengthen its ties with countries in
the Middle East, Africa and South America in his New Year's message.
The vice minister will hold talks with his African counterparts during his trip,
while he will also discuss the agenda for the upcoming G-20 economic summit when
visiting South Africa, the only African member of the economic forum, the
spokesman said.
Seoul will host the G-20 summit in November.
bdk@yna.co.kr