U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has canceled a planned visit to Japan next week over developments related to Iraq, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Wednesday.
Powell had planned to visit Tokyo on Tuesday to meet with Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi after paying a three-day visit to South Korea and meeting with Choi Sung Hong, South Korea's minister for foreign affairs and trade.
It also appears unlikely that Powell will now carry out his planned visit to South Korea.
As well as Iraq, the results of midterm elections in the United States were also cited by Fukuda as a reason behind the cancellation of Powell's visit.
Powell was also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Fukuda himself during his stay in Japan.
He reportedly planned to discuss security issues related to North Korea, particularly its uranium enrichment program suspected of being used to develop nuclear weapons.