YONHAP NEWS

Rice plans farewell visit to S. Korea

   By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to visit South Korea early next month as part of her farewell trip to the region, a South Korean government official said Tuesday.

   "Secretary Rice is scheduled to make a one-day trip to Seoul around Jan. 8," the official said on condition of anonymity.

   The main purpose behind her trip to Northeast Asia is to attend a ceremony in Beijing to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of U.S.-China diplomatic ties, according to the official.

   But he said that Rice may cancel her trip due to a deepening crisis in the Middle East following deadly assaults by Israel on the Palestine-controlled Gaza Strip.

   Foreign media outlets have put the total Palestinian death toll from Israel's offensive since Saturday at 347, with more than 800 wounded.

   If the outgoing secretary does visit Seoul as scheduled, she would likely pay a courtesy call on President Lee Myung-bak and meet with her counterpart Yu Myung-hwan during her stay.

   Rice made her latest trip to Seoul in February when she lead the U.S. government delegation during Lee's inauguration ceremony.

   lcd@yna.co.kr
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