Bush Expected to Visit Seoul in August
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to visit Seoul for summit talks with President Lee Myung-bak in early August when he travels to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
Cheong Wa Dae officials said Wednesday Lee will invite Bush to Seoul in August. Separately, they will meet on the sidelines of the G-8 summit, slated for July 7-9 in Japan, the officials said.
``South Korea and the United States agreed to hold the summit in Toyako, northern Japan, on the afternoon of July 9. Separately, we will invite Bush to Seoul in August,'' said an official who asked not to be named.
On Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Bush would meet with Lee on the sidelines of the G-8 summit. She suggested that his South Korea visit could take place later when he flies to China in August for the Olympics.
Hopes were high in Seoul that Bush may come to South Korea after the G-8 summit. However, the White House said Bush will now skip the trip.
It denied speculations that Bush will not travel to Seoul next month due to massive protests against Korea's beef import deal with the United States.
Lee will be in Japan on July 8-9 for the G-8 meeting as an observer. The summit involves heads of the Group of Seven countries plus Russia.
``On the sidelines of the summit, Lee plans to meet with the leaders of the United States, Russia, Mexico and India,'' the Cheong Wa Dae official said.
He said the likelihood of Bush's trip to South Korea in August will become clearer when U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in Seoul this weekend. She will meet with Lee and senior government officials to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons programs and other issues of mutual concern.