Colombia’s Barco Has Operation in Seoul for Peritonitis

Colombian President Virgilio Barco underwent emergency surgery for peritonitis Tuesday shortly after arriving in Seoul, officials said.

A nurse at Seoul National University Hospital confirmed Barco had undergone surgery but would not reveal details.

A statement from the presidential palace in Bogota, Colombia, said Barco had peritonitis and “suffered an acute perforation in the diverticulum of the colon.” No other details were provided immediately.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Kim Hang Kyong said Barco became ill during a stopover in Anchorage, Alaska, on his way to Seoul. Barco, who turns 66 Sept. 17, traveled on to Seoul but was forced to postpone a summit meeting with President Chun Doo Hwan, Korean officials said.

Barco, the first South American head of state to visit Seoul, was scheduled to discuss economic cooperation and other issues during the three-day state visit. He was accompanied by his wife and 13 Colombian officials.

While Barco was in the hospital, officials from the two nations signed a memorandum of agreement Tuesday to expedite bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, science and technology. Under the accord, the two nations will help each other promote science and technology joint ventures, news reports said.