Seoul visit will complicate Obama's regional tour, especially Japan stop
Seoul and Tokyo are vying for US president's attentions, and he'll have to consider carefully the implications of accepting South Korean invitation
Japan and South Korea are jostling for the attentions of US President Barack Obama, who has announced that he will be visiting a number of Washington's allies in the Asia-Pacific region in late April.
The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants Obama to spend at least a couple of days in Tokyo on the grounds that there are substantive issues that need to be discussed.
These include increasing aggression by China in recent months, North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programmes, and progress in the relocation of US troops from the southern prefecture of Okinawa. The Trans-Pacific Partnership will be among the trade issues that the Japanese are keen to discuss.
The president would also be invited to meet Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and attend a state banquet at the Imperial Palace.
However, there are a number of other motives that might be put forward to explain Tokyo's desire for a full-blown state visit.