President Park's Visit Marks US-South Korea Ties

South Korean President Park Geun-hye visited the White House for a meeting with President Barack Obama Friday. The visit marks the South Korean leader’s second visit to Washington since becoming president in 2013.

President Obama’s press secretary Josh Earnest said President Park’s visit is centering on issues related to South Korea’s economy, security and world issues. The visit is also meant to show the “rock-solid” commitment to the US-South Korea alliance.

Jim Schoff is an expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Asia Program. He says the meeting is about setting a strategic direction for the next five to 10 years.

Mr. Schoff said South Korea’s relationship with China and how that relationship  “can be beneficial to the alliance” going forward will be subjects for the talks.  He said the two leaders might discuss the entry of THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, missiles should North Korea continue to increase its missile capabilities.

President Park open to better ties with Japan

On Thursday, President Park spoke with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. She told those attending that she would be open to a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Such a meeting could help improve relations between the two countries.

She also said an upcoming three-way summit of Northeast Asia's leading powers might be an opportunity for a formal meeting with Mr. Abe. "I do feel I can have such a meeting with him," Ms. Park said.

She expressed hope that such a meeting would lead to progress on the issue of comfort women. They are Korean women who were kept as sex slaves by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War Two.

South Korea has sought an apology and compensation for surviving Korean victims.

The U.S. Defense Department held a rare “Full Honor Parade” for the South Korean president on her arrival at the Pentagon Thursday. This comes after President Park attended a Chinese military parade last month, causing concerns about South Korea’s growing relationship with China.

The visit to the Pentagon was seen as a strong symbol of the close ties between the U.S. and South Korea.

I'm Mario Ritter.

Carla Babb reported this story for VOA news. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.