Assembly speaker to tour Mediterranean region

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's parliamentary speaker plans to visit
three countries in the Mediterranean region, where he will meet with respective
government and legislative leaders to enhance cooperation in various areas of
joint interest, his office said Thursday.

Speaker Kim Hyung-o will embark on a 14-day trip Tuesday that will take him to
Morocco, Tunisia and Greece at the invitation of their respective legislative
bodies, Kim's office said.
Kim is expected to pay visits to leaders of the three countries and hold meetings
with his counterparts, as well as senior government officials to discuss ways of
boosting South Korea's overall economic, diplomatic and cultural ties with the
region.
The speaker will also ask the countries to support South Korea's bid for a
non-permanent membership on the U.N. Security Council in 2013-2014 and measures
to expand Korean business activities in the region.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)