U.S. President Barack Obama said he fully understands the decision by President Park Geun-hye to delay a trip to Washington over the MERS virus, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.
Obama also said during his telephone conversation with Park that he supported her decision and leadership, the presidential office said in a statement.
The U.S. president also said he is ready to provide all necessary aid to South Korea to help its Asian ally contain the spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus, according to the statement.
The conversation came two days after Park announced the postponement of the trip Wednesday, citing the need for all-out efforts by the government to contain the virus that has claimed 11 lives and infected more than 120 people.
“I am confident that the spread of the MERS virus will end,” Park told officials at the headquarters of a task force in Gyeonggi Province, where the first case of MERS in South Korea was reported.
The visit is the latest in a series of high-profile public activities meant to send a clear message that she was taking the lead in fighting the virus.
Obama also told Park that he had told his aides to consult with South Korean officials to quickly rearrange Park’s trip.
Park was originally scheduled to hold summit talks with Obama on June 16.
During the 20-minute conversation, Park expressed hope that she could meet with Obama in Washington at an early date, the statement said.
Park told Obama that a South Korean business delegation, which had planned to accompany her, will go ahead with its trip to the U.S. for talks with its American counterpart on how to boost economic cooperation.
Separately, Park called for joint efforts to quickly sign a bilateral nuclear deal that would allow Seoul to expand its non-military nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment and research into reprocessing.
Obama said the two sides will stand to benefit from their strengthened bilateral partnership on such issues ranging from threats posed by North Korea to climate change and cyber security, noting South Korea-U.S. relations is a “top priority” of the U.S.
Obama also asked Park to set an ambitious goal in cutting greenhouse gases, citing efforts for the success of the U.N. Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris in late November.
The conference is meant to produce a legally binding deal on climate. Scientists have said heat-trapping gases are to blame for global warming.
Park told Obama that she will make the utmost efforts, noting internal discussions are under way to finalize South Korea’s long-term commitments to climate change.
Options being considered in South Korea range from the minimum 14.7 percent to the maximum 31.3 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the country’s business-as-usual level by 2030. (Yonhap)
