Pelosi 'snubbed' by vacationing S Korean president

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol did not meet Nancy Pelosi due to a “scheduled vacation” amid speculation he was avoiding to antagonize China.

But Yoon held a 40-minute phone call with Pelosi, in which he promised close cooperation with the US Congress for the development of their global strategic alliance, deputy national security adviser Kim Tae Hyo said.

Yoon said Pelosi’s planned visit to the heavily fortified inter-Korean border area would be “a sign of a strong deterrence against North Korea.”

The presidential office in a separate press release said Yoon, during the phone call, expressed his hopes to meet Pelosi when he visits the United States to discuss ways to strengthen the alliance between the two countries.

Local media have criticized Yoon’s purported snub of Pelosi and his administration’s decision not to send a delegation to greet her at the airport.

Some published photos of Yoon attending a play in central Seoul the night Pelosi landed.

After visiting Taiwan, Pelosi and other members of the US Congress flew to South Korea on Wednesday evening as part of an Asian tour that included stops in Singapore and Malaysia. But she avoided making direct public comments on Taiwan.

Pelosi met South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin Pyo and other senior members of Parliament yesterday. After that hour-long meeting, Pelosi spoke about the bilateral alliance, forged in blood during the 1950-53 Korean War, and legislative efforts to support a push to boost ties but did not directly mention her Taiwan visit or the Chinese protests. Pelosi flew to Japan last night for the last stop of her Asian tour.