President Obama Visits South Korea

Global Business

U-S President Barack began the second leg of his four-nation Asian tour Friday. He arrived in Seoul amid renewed concerns the Democratic Republic of Korea is preparing for another nuclear test. Mr. Obama said the US stood ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with South Korea – adding that tougher sanctions may be needed against Pyongyang. CCTV correspondent, Shane Hahm, reports from Seoul.

President Obama Visits South Korea

U-S President Barack began the second leg of his four-nation Asian tour Friday. He arrived in Seoul amid renewed concerns the Democratic Republic of Korea is preparing for another nuclear test. Mr. Obama said the US stood 'shoulder to shoulder' with South Korea - adding that tougher sanctions may be needed against Pyongyang. CCTV correspondent, Shane Hahm, reports from Seoul.

U.S. President Barack Obama is in South Korea. And in the days leading up to the president’s visit, South Korea’s defense ministry says it detected increased activity at the DPRK’s underground nuclear test site. Seoul and Washington are adamant that Pyongyang must first show a sincere willingness to denuclearize before sitting down to talk.

China, however, feels that pressuring the DPRK into a corner could spell disastrous results. “The United States wants to use sanctions and pressure to sharpen Pyongyang’s choice and force them down this path, whereas China thinks you have to engage them, you have to draw them out, you have to talk to them first and then get them to disarm. And, you have to stay economically engaged. So, there’s a big gap between the two.

A cornered animal lashes out. That’s kind of what you hear when Chinese talk about North Korea. So, they don’t like to use pressure and they think it’s counterproductive.” This visit marks President Obama’s fourth trip to South Korea since taking office-the most ever by any sitting U.S. president.

On Saturday, the president will meet with a group of economists before giving a speech to U.S. troops stationed here. Then it’s off to Malaysia on the third leg of his four-nation tour to the region. The U.S.-South Korea alliance is stronger than ever, according to President Obama. But, experts believe any solution to the DPRK nuclear issue will require Washington and Beijing to be on the same page.

Moreover, CCTV correspondent Shane Hahm joins Phillip Yin to discuss more on U.S.-Korea trade issues and how South Korea Differs from Japan on Trans-Pacific Partnership.

How South Korea Differs From Japan on Trans-Pacific Partnership?

U-S President Barack Obama began the second leg of his four-nation Asian tour Friday. He arrived in Seoul amid renewed concerns--the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is preparing for another nuclear test. Mr. Obama said the U-S stood 'shoulder to shoulder' with the Republic of Korea. He said tougher sanctions may be needed against Pyongyang. CCTV’s Shane Hahm reports from Seoul.

President Obama’s visit to the ROK follows reports that Pyongyang detained an American tourist. According to DPRK state media, the 24 year-old man was detained for”rash behavior” as he was trying to enter the country. CCTV’s Elaine Reyes discusses this issue with Raymond Tanter, former member of the White House National Security Council during Reagan-Bush Administration.

South Korea warns of surprise DPRK nuke test

President Obama's visit to the ROK follows reports that Pyongyang detained an American tourist. According to DPRK state media, the 24 year-old man was detained for"rash behavior" as he was trying to enter the country. CCTV's Elaine Reyes discusses this issue with Raymond Tanter, former member of the White House National Security Council during Reagan-Bush Administration.