1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun virtually delivered remarks at the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on February 23, Geneva time. In his remarks, the Vice Minister underscored the importance of strengthening the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime as well as the Republic of Korea’s commitment to contribute in that regard, and explained the ROK government’s efforts to achieve complete denuclearization and establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

° The High-Level Segment is taking place in a virtual format from February 22 to 25, during which minister and vice minister-level officials of some 40 countries will deliver speeches on global disarmament and non-proliferation issues.

2. Vice Minister Choi stressed that,amid the difficult global security situation due to the prolonged deadlock in disarmament negotiations as well as the emergence of non-traditional security challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the international community needs to make concerted efforts based on multilateralism.

° In particular, the Vice Minister voiced hope that the CD, the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, would make progress in disarmament negotiations and thereby contribute to promoting international peace and security.

° Welcoming the recent extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between the United States and Russia, Vice Minister Choi called upon relevant states to engage in genuine dialogue for progress in nuclear disarmament in accordance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in order to achieve the shared goal of “a world free of nuclear weapons.”

° With regard to the Republic of Korea’s contribution, the Vice Minister mentioned that the ROK has actively engaged in collective efforts such as by participating in the Stockholm Initiative, which brings together 16 non-nuclear-weapon states advocating progress in nuclear disarmament, and by leading the adoption of the resolution titled “Youth, Disarmament and Non-proliferation” at the United Nations General Assembly with the aim to further engage the next generation in disarmament issues.

3. Vice Minister Choi also emphasized that the Korean Peninsula Peace Process is a route that Korea has chosen not because it wants to but because it has to, asking for the international community’s continued support for complete denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

° The Vice Minister explained that the Korean government has tirelessly and without hesitation initiated diplomatic ventures engaging North Korea with the aim to establish everyday peace on the Korean Peninsula, particularly introducing the September 19 Comprehensive Military Agreement as an achievement in building inter-Korean military trust and in operational arms control.

° The Vice Minister stated that the Korean government will continue to work with its friends and partners to restore the momentum of dialogue in the near future and to achieve complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula through peaceful means. He went on to ask the DPRK to respond to the call for the resumption of dialogue.