Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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August 4, 2008

North Korea, Trade to Top Bush's Asia Trip 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1D8895C:A6F02AD83191E1601E020C198737D52098CBE7246176B735&
 
US President George Bush will travel first to Seoul - a stop he
originally planned to make about a month ago, while in the region for
the G8 Summit in Japan 
U.S. President George Bush leaves later today on a week-long trip to
Asia. VOA White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson reports he will visit
South Korea, Thailand and China.U.S. President George W. BushThis is
likely to be Mr. Bush's final trip as president to Asia. He will travel
first to Seoul - a stop he originally planned to make about a month ago,
while in the region for the G8 Summit in Japan.The nuclear dispute with
North Korea is likely to top the agenda for his visit, along with trade
matters and issues surrounding the presence of American troops on South
Korean soil. Robert Einhorn is an expert on proliferation issues at the
Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. He says
President Bush will use this trip to help bolster diplomatic efforts to
deal with North Korea's nuclear ambitions."The Bush administration and
the president will be trying to keep this six-party process on track,
but the process is a very fragile one and time is running o!
 ut on the Bush administration which, somewhat ironically, has come to
regard the North Korean negotiations as one of its most significant
diplomatic successes," he said.Mr. Bush will remain in Seoul for less
than 24 hours. His stay in Thailand will be just as brief but, once
again, there will be a full agenda.He will make the only speech of the
trip in Bangkok - an address that aides say will be an assessment of
U.S. policy in Asia during his time in office. He will also use his stay
in the Thai capital to highlight the situation in neighboring Burma."I
am deeply concerned about that country," said Mr. Bush. "Their response
to the recent natural disaster was unwarranted, at best. And, we urge
the regime to free [democracy advocate and Nobel laureate] Aung San Suu
Kyi."The president will get a briefing on cyclone relief efforts and
will meet privately with Burmese activists, while in Bangkok. At the
same time, first lady Laura Bush will go to the Thai-Burmese borde!
 r to visit a refugee camp and clinic.They will then travel together to
 Beijing, where Mr. Bush will become the first American president to
attend an Olympic Games held outside the United States.At a send-off for
the U.S. Olympic team at the White House, President Bush said he is
excited about the prospect of seeing the games in person."Laura and I
look forward to joining you for the Olympics," he said. "I'm fired up to
go."Critics say President Bush should stay away from the games because
of concerns about China's human rights record and Beijing's actions in
Tibet and Sudan's Darfur region.But the president says he can go to the
games as a sports fan and bring up these matters in private, during his
talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao.The two last met on July 9, on
the sidelines of the G8 Summit. When reporters were ushered in at the
end of the meeting, Mr. Bush said the Chinese leader is well aware of
his views."The president and I have constantly had discussions about
human rights and political freedom. He knows my position," said M!
 r. Bush. "And, as I told our people, Mr. President, I don't need the
Olympics to talk candidly with somebody who I've got good relations
with."His talks in Beijing are also likely to focus on the sensitive
issues of trade and American arms sales to Taiwan. 


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