US President Barack Obama to meet South Korea, Japan leaders to discuss North Korea threat

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama would hold a trilateral meeting with the leaders of South Korea and Japan to discuss the threat posed by North Korea this week on the sidelines of Nuclear Security Summit, the White House said.

"On March 31, the President will host President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan for a trilateral meeting on the margins of the Nuclear Security Summit," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said yesterday.

"This meeting will be an opportunity for the three leaders to discuss common responses to the threat posed by North Korea and to advance areas of trilateral security cooperation in the region and globally," he said.

Obama would also be meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit.

Heads of States of nearly 24 countries, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are attending the two-day summit on March 31 and April 1.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has cancelled his visit to Washington as a result of the Lahore terrorist attack that killed 72 people on Sunday.