President Yoon Suk-yeol calls cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik from his office in Yongsan District, Seoul, in this May 30 file photo. Yoon had a phone call with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Thursday. Courtesy of presidential office

By Nam Hyun-woo

Speculation was rampant on Thursday about why President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were unable to meet during her visit to Seoul, as the two agreed to talk over the phone instead.

Some claimed Yoon might be wary of the possible impact on Korea-China relations amid Beijing's furious reaction to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan before she landed in Seoul on Wednesday.

But the presidential office denied such speculation and said the key reason was simply a scheduling conflict.