(2nd LD) Park, Obama hold summit amid N.K. provocations

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; minor edits)
By Song Sang-ho

HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday held a summit with her U.S. counterpart Barack Obama in Vientiane to discuss an array of issues, including North Korea's continued provocations, her office Cheong Wa Dae said.

Their talks came amid Pyongyang's continued provocations, including its launch of three mid-range ballistic missiles Monday. The missiles traveled some 1,000 kilometers and fell into waters within Japan's air defense identification zone, Seoul's military officials said.

Observers say the two leaders will use their summit to send a unified message against the communist state's provocations, and its evolving nuclear and missile programs.

The summit between Park and Obama is the first since their last meeting held on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C. in March.

Laos is the third and last leg of Park's eight-day trip that also took her to Russia and China.

sshluck@yna.co.kr
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