US’ Rubio calls off his Japan and South Korea visit, Nikkei reports

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is postponing his visit to Japan and South Korea to focus on the Middle East, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper said.

PHOTO: AFP

Summary

• Marco Rubio cancelled his planned visits to Japan and South Korea, as reported by Japans Nikkei newspaper on July 3.
• The postponement is due to Rubio attending a meeting in Washington between Trump and Netanyahu, Nikkei reports.
• Seoul’s Foreign Ministry stated Rubios South Korea visit is difficult to arrange in the near future, according to Reuters.

AI generated

TOKYO - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called off his first visit to Japan and South Korea to focus on the Middle East, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper reported on July 3.

Mr Rubio was expected to land in Tokyo on July 7, but he has informed the Japanese and South Korean governments that his schedule will be postponed, the report said.

Mr Rubio had planned to visit Japan for the first time in early July, followed by South Korea, before attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers’ meetings in Malaysia, Kyodo reported last week, quoting a Japanese government official.

Instead, Mr Rubio is set to attend a meeting in Washington between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Nikkei added.

Earlier in the day, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said that Mr Rubio’s visit to South Korea appears to be “difficult” to arrange in the near future. REUTERS