Duterte's visit to the White House likely in a few months –DFA

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President Rodrigo Duterte's visit to the White House may happen within the "next few months" due to an "urgent" topic — the situation at the Korean peninsula, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.
"Most likely in the next few months kasi urgent ang topic," DFA spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said.
Bolivar said the meeting is in connection with US President Donald Trump's interest in consulting with his Asian allies regarding his next move on North Korea, which recently test-fired a ballistic missile.
"Inimbita ni President Trump si President Duterte sa White House para talakayin ang sitwasyon sa Korean Peninsula," Bolivar said. "Gusto yata ng US na magkonsulta sa mga allies and strategic partners sa Asia para mapag-usapan ang approach sa tensions sa DPRK."
Duterte spoke with Trump over the phone on Saturday following the conclusion of the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila.
Before that, ASEAB Foreign Ministers expressed "grave concern" over North Korea’s nuclear tests and subsequent missile launches, saying it causes "instability" in the region.

Malacañang said Trump also confirmed his attendance at the East Asia Summit in November during the conversation.
Bolivar said the DFA has yet to finalize the date of Duterte's travel with their American counterparts.
"Ang arrangements for any visit DFA ang lead, kasi through diplomatic channels i-finalize lahat yan. Pero we defer to Malacañang on preferred dates at kung anong mga side events ang gusto ni Pangulo," he said. —JP Soriano and Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News