S. Korea declines to receive Israel's president: Report

By Said Amouri

JERUSALEM

Seoul has refused to receive Israeli President Reuven Rivlin for a state visit to South Korea, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported Thursday.

According to the newspaper, Israeli officials were “surprised” by Seoul's negative response to Tel Aviv’s request to host Rivlin.

South Korean officials have not provided any reasons for the move, the paper reported, adding: “But it was made clear to Israel that the move was not intended as a personal slight against the president.”

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, some observers have attributed the move to economic motives, noting that Israel had recently purchased four German-made sea vessels instead of South Korean ones.

Some observers have also noted Seoul’s frustration with Israel's tepid support for an April summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Yedioth Ahronoth went on to assert that Seoul’s negative response, “while unpleasant, does not signify a crisis -- or tension -- in [Israel-South Korea] relations, which remain positive”.