US defense chief to visit ROK amid tensions

BEIJING - United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday added a last-minute Seoul stop to his East Asia itinerary next month, amid wide speculation of US deployment of three nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in East Asia.

"Secretary Gates has added a brief stop in the Republic of Korea (ROK) to his upcoming trip to Asia," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said in a statement.

Gates and his ROK counterpart will delve into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) recent actions, and consult on the threats posed by Pyongyang's provocations and its nuclear and missile programs, the statement said.