Obama in Seoul amid fears of North Korea nuclear test
- 10 years ago
Continuing his tour of Asia, President Obama has arrived in South Korea – warning the North not to conduct another nuclear test.
The US leader’s trip comes amid reports of increased activity at a nuclear site in the North.
Seoul says the intelligence suggests Pyongyang may be planning a fourth test.
Obama began his visit at the National War Memorial, paying tribute to soldiers from the South who died in the Korean War of 1950-53.
Earlier, in Japan, Obama called on China to dissuade its neighbour from continuing its nuclear programme.
There are fears that North Korea may look to disrupt the US president’s visit with a show of strength.
Pyongyang is persistently irritated by joint US-South Korean military co-operation.
But it is also thought that the likelihood of irking Beijing – North Korea’s only major economic prop – may deter it from actually carrying out a nuclear test.
Obama’s visit comes as South Korea is preoccupied with the Sewol ferry tragedy in which hundreds of children died.
The US leader’s trip comes amid reports of increased activity at a nuclear site in the North.
Seoul says the intelligence suggests Pyongyang may be planning a fourth test.
Obama began his visit at the National War Memorial, paying tribute to soldiers from the South who died in the Korean War of 1950-53.
Earlier, in Japan, Obama called on China to dissuade its neighbour from continuing its nuclear programme.
There are fears that North Korea may look to disrupt the US president’s visit with a show of strength.
Pyongyang is persistently irritated by joint US-South Korean military co-operation.
But it is also thought that the likelihood of irking Beijing – North Korea’s only major economic prop – may deter it from actually carrying out a nuclear test.
Obama’s visit comes as South Korea is preoccupied with the Sewol ferry tragedy in which hundreds of children died.