Bolton cancels trip to S. Korea: White House
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton takes notes during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and China's Vice Premier Liu He in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., Friday (local time). Reuters-Yonhap
U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has canceled a planned visit to South Korea ahead of next week's summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a White House spokesman said Friday (local time).
"Ambassador Bolton has canceled his travel to the Republic of Korea to focus on events in Venezuela," the National Security Council spokesman told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity
A diplomatic source in Seoul earlier told Yonhap, "The White House has said that he will not visit Seoul due to the need to watch the Venezuelan situation."
On Wednesday, CNN reported, quoting two U.S. officials, that he will visit South Korea this week for discussions about the upcoming summit between Trump and Kim set for Feb. 27 and 28 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Bolton has been one of the core hard-liners on North Korea issues.
Next week's Trump-Kim summit is expected to focus on fleshing out Pyongyang's denuclearization steps and reciprocal concessions by Washington.
The North has demanded the U.S. take "corresponding measures" in return for its additional denuclearization steps, which may include partial sanctions relief, humanitarian aid, the establishment of a U.S. liaison office in Pyongyang and the declaration of a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War.
For its part, the U.S. has called for concrete, substantive steps toward the North's nuclear disarmament, including a full listing of its nuclear and missile programs. (Yonhap)