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The White House is being cagey as to whether U.S. President George W. Bush's will visit Seoul in early July or not. When a reporter asked whether Bush¡¯s trip to Korea is in jeopardy because of ongoing protests against the resumption of U.S. beef imports to South Korea, White House Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto on Tuesday said, "We haven't announced anything on the President's travel yet."
Since he was invited by President Lee Myung-bak during a visit to the U.S. in April, Bush has been expected to come before or after taking part in the G8 summit on July 7-9 in Japan.
A diplomatic source in Washington said, "The White House bas been making preparations for President Bush's visit to Seoul and dispatched an advance team to Korea. But it is highly likely that in the wake of anti-U.S. beef protests in Korea, his schedule will be moved from early July to sometime before or after the opening of the Beijing Olympics on Aug. 8."
The Korean government apparently feels it would be better if Bush were to visit Seoul after additional Korea-U.S. beef talks are concluded and the anti-beef protests subside.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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