THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye had her foreign minister attend on her behalf a banquet hosted by the Dutch king for world leaders participating in an international nuclear security summit as she was feeling unwell, her spokesman said.

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se attended Monday's banquet hosted by Dutch King Willem Alexander for leaders from 53 countries and four international organizations attending this week's Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague, presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook said.

Park decided to send Yun because she was not feeling well, Min said.

The spokesman said that Park has been on a hectic schedule and had not slept well, both on the flight here and after arrival, as she has had to prepare for the nuclear conference and summit meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Park decided it better to skip the banquet and prepare for the second day of discussions at the nuclear conference as well as for three-way talks with U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set for later Tuesday, Min said.

Park also called off a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon planned for Tuesday after the Korean-born U.N. chief asked for its cancellation after learning that Park was feeling unwell, Min said.

Ban told South Korean officials that it would be better to call the planned meeting off because he and Park briefly met at the conference venue on Monday and because Park should take care of her health first, according to the spokesman. (Yonhap)