Protests planned in S.Korea ahead of Trump's visit

South Korean civil groups on Friday called for protests over the weekend throughout the country against US President Donald Trump's visit next week.

At least 1,000 people are expected to gather in Jongno in Seoul, for an anti-Trump protest, while similar rallies are expected to take place simultaneously in other cities such as Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan and Changwon, reports Efe news.

Trump will visit South Korea between November 7 and 8 for a summit with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in, and discuss North Korea's nuclear threats and the bilateral free trade pact, among other issues.

South Korean progressive groups have blamed Trump's hard-line policy - sending strategic military assets to the region and his belligerent comments to the regime led by Kim Jong-un - for aggravating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The civil groups have called on Moon to take bold measures such as the suspension of joint military drills with the US to bring Pyongyang to the negotiating table.

Besides the anti-Trump rallies, pro-US rallies, led by conservative groups and supporters of the South Korea-US alliance are also expected to take place to welcome Trump.

--IANS

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