A planned trip by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been called off by President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Africa will take center stage with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May visiting the continent, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta traveling to Washington, and China gearing up for the 2018 Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Pompeo's canceled trip to DPRK

Just one day after Pompeo announced he would visit Pyongyang in the coming week, Trump ordered him to delay the trip, citing lack of progress on the issue of denuclearization.

"I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea (the DPRK), at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Trump tweeted on Friday.

It was not the first time that Trump had "canceled" a diplomatic plan between Washington and Pyongyang. In May, the US president called off his June 12 summit with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore, but the meeting eventually took place as planned.

The latest development has underlined the gaps between Washington and Pyongyang on the issue of denuclearization. The United States has blamed the DPRK for its lack of action in dismantling its nuclear program, whereas Pyongyang has condemned Washington's "gangster-like demands."

More finger pointing is expected, but the possibility of renewed positive interactions cannot be ruled out.

Africa at center stage

African countries will draw worldwide attention with several high-profile diplomatic events coming soon. May is due to begin a four-day visit to South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya on Monday, before Merkel kicks off her trips to Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria on Wednesday. 

Elsewhere, Kenyatta will pay a visit to the US early in the week, which comes one year after the Kenyan president's disputed re-election and three years after then US President Barack Obama's tour to his father's homeland.

Later in the week, a large number of African leaders are expected to arrive in Beijing ahead of the FOCAC summit, slated for September 3-4. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will make a four-day trip to China starting on Saturday and speak at the summit, according to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The summit will be themed "China and Africa: Toward an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future through Win-win Cooperation."

Day-by-day

Monday: British Prime Minister Theresa May begins a four-day visit to Africa, with stops scheduled in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya; US President Donald Trump and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta confer at the White House, and the United States' sanctions on Russia over the Skripal case are expected to come into effect.

Tuesday: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives in Bolivia for an official visit.

Wednesday: French President Emmanuel Macron is due to visit Denmark and Finland; German Chancellor Angela Merkel begins trips to Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria; Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visits Colombia, and an informal meeting of EU defense ministers kicks off in Vienna.

Thursday: Leaders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are expected to attend a Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit in Kathmandu, Nepal, and an informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers kicks off in Vienna while the informal meeting of EU defense ministers continues.

Friday: The informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers continues in Vienna.

Saturday: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres begins a four-day trip to China; a new regulation allowing residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan to apply for residence permits in the Chinese mainland takes effect (holders of the residence permit will enjoy more rights, basic public services, and other conveniences relating to their study, work, business operation, and life in the mainland), and the Mauritanian National Assembly election takes place.

Sunday: The Rwandan Chamber of Deputies election takes place.