Donald Trump Will Not Visit Demilitarized Zone During Asia Trip: Official

Washington: US President Donald Trump will not go to the heavily fortified demilitarized zone (DMZ) on the border of North Korea and South Korea during his Asia trip, a senior administration official said on Tuesday.

"The president is not going to visit the DMZ. There is not enough time in the schedule," the official told reporters in a background briefing.

Instead, Trump will be the first American president to visit Camp Humphreys, a military installation south of the South Korean capital of Seoul.

"We thought that would make more sense in terms of its messaging, in terms of the chance to address families and troops there," the official said.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis visited the demilitarized zone that divides the Korean Peninsula last week and Vice President Mike Pence made the same trip in April.

The official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity in briefing reporters, noted the two Trump administration forays to the zone.

"It's becoming a little bit of a cliche, frankly," the official said.

Trump leaves for his first trip to Asia this week.