The MERS outbreak in South Korea has forced President Park Geun-hye to postpone a planned visit to the United States next week. With two new deaths and 13 more infections, the virus has now killed nine and infected an estimated 108 in South Korea.
The outbreak is now the second largest outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the world and the largest outside of the Middle East. The virus has no known cure and was first brought to South Korea by a citizen returning from a business trip in Saudi Arabia.
The South Korean leader was supposed to arrive in the U.S. on Sunday and hold talks with President Obama on June 16. The trip was intended to reaffirm the alliance between the two countries and strengthen economic cooperation.
The presidents were expected to discuss the current security situation in the region and the continued threat from North Korea.
The visit is yet to be officially rescheduled, but a spokesperson for Ms. Park said that she intends to meet with President Obama at the “earliest mutually convenient time.”
• Andrew Nachemson can be reached at anachemson@washingtontimes.com.
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