U.S. President George W. Bush will visit Seoul in early July as previously scheduled, it emerged on Monday. A diplomatic source said Korea and the U.S. “are in discussion to realize President Bush's visit to Seoul right after his participation in the G8 summit in Japan on July 7-9. As of now, I don't think there is any change in his schedule."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young told reporters U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is arriving here Saturday, “will discuss President Bush's visit to Seoul with Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan."
There have been fears that Bush's visit would be postponed until August due to anti-U.S. beef protests. But the two countries reportedly decided to push for his visit in July as scheduled, in the belief that anti-U.S. beef sentiments have subsided in the wake of a new beef agreement reached this weekend.
Bush is returning President Lee Myung-bak's visit to the U.S. in April. The two leaders are expected to give shape to what is touted as a “21st century strategic alliance,” which they discussed in April. Their vision for the alliance will be released in the form of a document.
