Obama meets SKorean president; discusses Pak-Afg issues

Obama meets SKorean president; discusses Pak-Afg issues

Updated at: 1022 PST, Thursday, November 19, 2009 SEOUL: US President Obama met with his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak on Thursday to hold a summit on diverse regional and global issues, including the DPRK nuclear program and the pending bilateral free trade agreement. According to sources, two presidents also discussed the issues relating to security and stability in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Obama, arriving at Seoul's presidential office at local time 11: 00 a.m. (0200 GMT), attended a welcoming ceremony and left a message on the visitor's note. After holding a one-on-one meeting, the two leaders are expected to be joined by their key ministers for a 30-minute "expanded" summit, Seoul's presidential office said. Lee and Obama will hold a joint press conference after their summit, which will be followed by a state lunch hosted by the South Korean president. After visiting a US military base to meet with a group of American service members stationed here, Obama will head home, wrapping up his four-nation Asia tour. The Lee-Obama meeting is the third of a kind since Obama's inauguration early this year.