Republicans are pressing President Obama to clarify what he meant when he told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev he'd have "more flexibility" on missile defense after the November election. 

The brief exchange between Obama and Medvedev during a sit-down in Seoul quickly spread around the world Monday, after a Russian journalist recorded it and shared the tape with the producer assigned to cover the event for other networks. 

The remarks by Obama were open to interpretation. But while the White House downplayed them, prominent Republicans seized on them as a sign Obama was leaving some plan unspoken. 

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney said the comments were "alarming and troubling." 

House Speaker John Boehner tweeted that when the president returns, "we look forward to hearing what he meant by having 'more flexibility' on missile defense." 

In the recording, according to the pool producer who heard it, Obama told Medvedev: "This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility."