South Korean Pres. To Discuss Trade, Tourism With Villaraigosa, Gov. Brown
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a stop in Washington and a visit with President Barack Obama, South Korea's President Park Geun-hye is scheduled for a sit-down Thursday with California Gov. Jerry Brown and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
They're expected to discuss trade and tourism during the two-hour event at the mayor's residence near downtown.
Park told Congress on Wednesday that she will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea and that provocative actions by the reclusive communist country "will be met decisively."
Park is on her first overseas strip since taking power in February, two weeks after the North conducted its latest nuclear test, the third since 2006, and increased tensions in the region.
Los Angeles has a large Korean population, anchored in the city's Koreatown neighborhood.
On Tuesday, Park and Obama delivered a strong message of solidarity in the face of threats from North Korea.
Park's visit marks the 60th anniversary of the military alliance with the U.S. that maintains 28,500 troops in South Korea.
Park is the daughter of the late South Korean dictator Park Chung-hee. In her 20s, she assumed the duties of first lady after a gunman claiming orders from North Korea killed her mother.
Park's attempts to build trust with North Korea have gained no traction, and relations have worsened since she took office. The North recently forced the closure of a joint industrial park that was a rare symbol of cooperation between the two countries.
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