Biden rejects Seoul's invitation to visit: source

Biden rejects Seoul's invitation to visit: source

By Lee Chi-dong
   WASHINGTON, July 13 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has declined South Korea's formal invitation to visit there when he travels to Northeast Asia next month, citing a tight schedule, a diplomatic source here said Wednesday.
   Biden is expected to make a trip to China in the middle of next month after Congress goes into summer recess, and he is considering stopping by Japan, according to the source who requested anonymity.
   "The South Korean government delivered a formal invitation for Vice President Biden to visit Seoul as well, but his side replied that it would be difficult for him to do so because of a lack of time," the source said.
   The vice president, mainly dealing with foreign affairs and relations with Congress, has made no visit to South Korea since he took the post in January 2009.
   After meeting with Biden here in March, South Korea's Special Affairs Minister Lee Jae-oh told reporters that the vice president would likely to visit South Korea this summer.
   "Minister Lee seemed to have just held out his hope at that time," the source said.
   The source, however, did not rule out the possibility that Biden could change his mind and make a brief stop in South Korea before or after traveling to China if the U.S. free trade agreement with South Korea wins parliamentary ratification.
   lcd@yna.co.kr
leechidong@gmail.com
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