We begin with the anticipation over back-to-back diplomatic talks for Korea and two of its closest partners this week -- China and the United States.
Watchers say Seoul could find itself in a tough spot… with some controversial issues on the table.
Arirang's Hwang Sung-hee has the story.
Korea could find itself tangled between two superpowers following its back-to-back meetings with China and the United States this week.
The touchy subjects topping the agenda are the possible deployment of the Washington-led THAAD missile defense system in South Korea and Seoul's participation in China's Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Following talks with his South Korean counterpart Lee Kyung-soo on Monday, Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Jianchao said they'd had a very open and honest discussion about the THAAD deployment.
Liu added that Beijing hopes Seoul will consider China's interest and concerns about the matter.
Beijing is against the deployment because of concerns that its radar system, which can cover 1-thousand kilometers, could be used to monitor mainland China.
Although Seoul and Washington say there have been no official discussions on THAAD, the U.S. Forces Korea said last Thursday that it conducted site surveys on where to deploy the missile defense system.
As for Seoul's participation in the AIIB, Liu said he reiterated China's hopes for Korea to join the bank as a founding member.
The AIIB -- aimed at creating a new financial order centered around China -- is opposed by the U.S. because it believes Beijing could use it for political purposes.
Seoul will reportedly make its final decision on joining this new financial institution later this month.
"All this comes just a day before U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel meets with South Korean officials.
While Russel is widely expected to address the two sensitive issues, an official at Seoul's foreign ministry brushed off the speculations, saying his visit has nothing to do
