Vice Presidential Visit

[Anchor Lead]

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will visit South Korea for the first time since the inauguration of Donald Trump as President. Pence is expected to discuss the U.S.-China summit, the North Korean nuclear issue and the THAAD U.S. missile defense system with Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn.

[Pkg]

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will embark on his first Asia tour since taking office. His first stop will be South Korea where he will be arriving on April 16th. The Foreign Ministry in Seoul said that Pence is set to meet with Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn and discuss the South Korea-U.S. alliance, North Korea’s nuclear issue and the THAAD anti-missile system among other pending issues concerning the Korean Peninsula. Pence, whose father is a Korean War veteran, is expected to have a busy schedule during his three-day stay in South Korea.

[Soundbite] Cho June-hyuck(Foreign Ministry Spokesman) : "We are currently coordinating with Washington on Pence's upcoming visit and a related announcement will soon be made."

In particular, Pence is expected to explain to Acting President Hwang and other key government officials the results of the China-U.S. summit and the current climate of Washington's North Korea policy. He is also expected to reaffirm U.S. commitment to cooperate with Seoul on the North Korean nuclear issue and underscore that the South Korea-U.S. alliance is strong. Pence will leave South Korea on April 18th for Japan where he will stay until April 20th. He will then visit Australia and Indonesia.