South Korea’s president to visit White House June 16

US President Barack Obama will host his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-Hye at the White House on June 16, officials announced Tuesday.

The meeting, which White House officials said was designed to “underscore the strength and breadth” of relations, comes amid rising tensions with North Korea.

The United States recently dismissed a claim by Pyongyang that it now has the ability to miniaturize nuclear warheads.

Washington also has criticized the testing of a new submarine-launched ballistic missile and the apparent killing of North Korean defense minister Hyon Yong-Chol.

“They will discuss the current security situation on the Korean Peninsula in the face of the continued threat from North Korea,” the White House said.

The talks also will tackle the issues of environment, health and cybersecurity, which has become another outlet for North Korean belligerence.