Rex Tillerson reportedly cut short badly needed diplomatic consultations about North Korea because he was tired

(Image credit: Jeon Heon-Kyun-Pool/Getty Images)

published 17 March 2017

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned of nuclear war with North Korea on Friday, a grim and alarming statement not to be taken lightly. But with the American media sidelined during Tillerson's four-day visit to Asia, it has largely fallen on the South Korean press to report on the state of the negotiations, and how the U.S. and South Korea are planning to move forward together. It is through The Korea Herald, then, that it was revealed Tillerson cut short his meetings with South Korean leaders because he was too tired.

The Korea Herald writes:

… Tillerson's shortened diplomatic consultations and public events in Seoul spawned a flurry of speculation given a leadership vacuum and political uncertainties.A joint news conference aside, Tillerson spent almost two and a half hours with Japanese Foreign Minister [Fumio] Kishida, including a dinner, and another hour with Prime Minister Abe. But his meetings with [Seoul's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se] and [acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn] were each confined to about an hour, without a lunch or dinner gathering. Seoul officials said the U.S. side opted not to have a meal together, citing the secretary's "fatigue." [The Korea Herald]

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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