US apologises over Bush trip announcement: Seoul official
A senior Seoul Official said that the United States has apologised for unilaterally announcing the dates of President George W Bush's visit to South Korea in August
By Agencies |
SEOUL: The United States has apologised for unilaterally announcing the dates of President George W Bush's visit to South Korea in August, a senior Seoul presidential official said Wednesday.
Dennis Wilder, an Asian affairs director at the White House's National Security Council, said Tuesday that Bush will visit Seoul on August 5 and 6, just before going to the Beijing Olympics.
But the office of President Lee Myung-Bak said in a statement the date has not been fixed as consultations are still under way.
Hours later, Washington offered an apology through diplomatic channels for unilaterally disclosing the dates, the senior official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
"The US side has expressed regret. We decided to accept it," he said. "We have conveyed our understanding to the US side over its expression of regret. Our side has told the US side that it should not be repeated," the official said.
"I think it was not desirable, although the mistake might have been caused by a slip of the tongue. We are taking no notice of it because it was a mistake by an individual."
The US embassy said it could not comment on the matter. There had earlier been widespread speculation that Bush would visit Seoul in early July.
The White House announced last week there would be no July trip, but did not link this to continuing South Korean street protests against the import of US beef.
Bush and new President Lee Myung-Bak held a summit at Camp David in April and are scheduled to meet again next Wednesday on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit in Japan.
The US is South Korea's oldest ally and stations 28,500 troops in the country to bolster defences against any North Korean attack.
Dennis Wilder, an Asian affairs director at the White House's National Security Council, said Tuesday that Bush will visit Seoul on August 5 and 6, just before going to the Beijing Olympics.
But the office of President Lee Myung-Bak said in a statement the date has not been fixed as consultations are still under way.
Hours later, Washington offered an apology through diplomatic channels for unilaterally disclosing the dates, the senior official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
"The US side has expressed regret. We decided to accept it," he said. "We have conveyed our understanding to the US side over its expression of regret. Our side has told the US side that it should not be repeated," the official said.
"I think it was not desirable, although the mistake might have been caused by a slip of the tongue. We are taking no notice of it because it was a mistake by an individual."
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The US embassy said it could not comment on the matter. There had earlier been widespread speculation that Bush would visit Seoul in early July.
The White House announced last week there would be no July trip, but did not link this to continuing South Korean street protests against the import of US beef.
Bush and new President Lee Myung-Bak held a summit at Camp David in April and are scheduled to meet again next Wednesday on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit in Japan.
The US is South Korea's oldest ally and stations 28,500 troops in the country to bolster defences against any North Korean attack.
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