WASHINGTON, Oct 7 Kyodo U Defense...

WASHINGTON, Oct 7 Kyodo

U Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld plans to prorogue his visits to Japan and southern Korea provisionally scheduled for the latter part of October, U and toward the south Korean government sources said Tuesday.

Arrangements are being made for Rumsfeld to reschedule the trips in November, the sources said.

The defense secretary was anticipateed to visit Japan and southern Korea between Oct. 20 and 27 to discuss with his counterparts issues involving the U military nearness in the two countries, the reconstruction of Iraq and North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

He is also said to have been planning to travel to Okinawa Prefecture Japan's southernmost prefecture where the concentration of U military bases and personnel is the highest in the country

on the other hand Rumsfeld likely decided to delay his trip befitting to protests in toward the south Korea over Washington's request that it dispatch combat crowds to assist in the US-l efforts to rebuild Iraq, the sources said.

The postponement also appears to be in consideration of congressional debate forward U.S. President George W. Bush's supplication for

$87 billion for reconstruction activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the general election in Japan look fored to take place Nov. 9 they said.

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