Pence sets off to PyeongChang with remit to highlight North Korea's abuses
- 6 years ago
U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence is on his way to Japan and then South Korea, where he will head the U.S. delegation for the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
However, he brings with him a message that despite North Korea's peaceful participation at the Games, the U.S. will not back down on its pressure on the regime.
Kwon Jang-ho has this report.
After a closed-door meeting with President Donald Trump, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence set off on a five-day trip to Japan and South Korea.
He'll arrive in Tokyo on Tuesday, where he'll meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the following day -- they're expected to talk about North Korea, and what more they can do to up the pressure on the regime.
He'll then set off to Korea on Thursday... in time for Friday's opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
However, the White House has stressed that his role in Pyeongchang will not be just ceremonial.
A White House official on Monday said "the vice president will take every chance to highlight the reality of what is happening in North Korea."
Another White House aide said Pence will make sure that North Korea does not 'hijack' the sporting event for its own propaganda purposes.
This point will be further driven home as Pence will be accompanied at the opening ceremony by Fred Warmbier, the father of Otto Warmbier, the U.S. student who died last year shortly after being released from North Korean captivity.
The Warmbier family were also special guests at Trump's State of the Union address last week, where the President attacked North Korea's human rights abuses.
Pence will meet with President Moon Jae-in during his visit, but there will also be much attention on whether there will be any interaction with North Korean officials.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who spoke with the Vice President before he left, said on Monday that they will see what happens.
Meanwhile, for the Closing Ceremony, CNN are reporting that the First Daughter, Ivanka Trump, will be leading the U.S. delegation at the request of her father and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
She is also expected to attend some of the Olympic events in which Team USA are involved.
Kwon Jang-ho, Arirang News.
However, he brings with him a message that despite North Korea's peaceful participation at the Games, the U.S. will not back down on its pressure on the regime.
Kwon Jang-ho has this report.
After a closed-door meeting with President Donald Trump, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence set off on a five-day trip to Japan and South Korea.
He'll arrive in Tokyo on Tuesday, where he'll meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the following day -- they're expected to talk about North Korea, and what more they can do to up the pressure on the regime.
He'll then set off to Korea on Thursday... in time for Friday's opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
However, the White House has stressed that his role in Pyeongchang will not be just ceremonial.
A White House official on Monday said "the vice president will take every chance to highlight the reality of what is happening in North Korea."
Another White House aide said Pence will make sure that North Korea does not 'hijack' the sporting event for its own propaganda purposes.
This point will be further driven home as Pence will be accompanied at the opening ceremony by Fred Warmbier, the father of Otto Warmbier, the U.S. student who died last year shortly after being released from North Korean captivity.
The Warmbier family were also special guests at Trump's State of the Union address last week, where the President attacked North Korea's human rights abuses.
Pence will meet with President Moon Jae-in during his visit, but there will also be much attention on whether there will be any interaction with North Korean officials.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who spoke with the Vice President before he left, said on Monday that they will see what happens.
Meanwhile, for the Closing Ceremony, CNN are reporting that the First Daughter, Ivanka Trump, will be leading the U.S. delegation at the request of her father and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
She is also expected to attend some of the Olympic events in which Team USA are involved.
Kwon Jang-ho, Arirang News.