폼페이오, 내달 초 방한…미중갈등 속 한국 끌어들이기 포석<br /><br />U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will reportedly visit South Korea in the coming weeks.<br />Pompeo's trip, which will be his first to the country in two years, comes as the allies have a heap of issues to discuss,... including defense cost sharing for American troops on the peninsula.<br />Lee Seung-jae has more.<br />According to government sources Wednesday,... U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will likely make a two-day visit to South Korea starting October 7th.<br />While Seoul and Washington are currently in talks to set up Pompeo's trip,... it's expected his visit will include meetings with President Moon Jae-in and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.<br />A number of major issues will be discussed.<br />They include the ongoing negotiations between Seoul and Washington on defense cost-sharing for American troops stationed in South Korea,... which will most likely be discussed during Pompeo's meeting with Kang.<br />Also on the agenda,... could be North Korea's nuclear weapons development,... and a possible invitation of South Korea to the G7 Summit,... which has been postponed until after the U.S. presidential election in early November.<br />Despite speculation Pompeo may hold a surprise meeting with North Korean officials during his stay,... a source shot that down,... saying Pompeo's visit is aimed more at wooing South Korea at a time of increasing U.S.-China tensions.<br />It's widely expected Pompeo will explain Washington's stance on its conflicts with Beijing,... and ask for Seoul's support.<br />Pompeo's trip to South Korea will be part of his trip to Japan,... where he's expected to meet his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan.<br />Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported Wednesday that Pompeo is due to meet with Japan's new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga while he's in Tokyo.<br />Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.<br />
