1. On December 19, the second day of their meeting 2017, the chiefs of the Republic of Korea’s overseas diplomatic missions were offered a lecture on “national interests-centered diplomacy: peace on the Korean Peninsula” by Chung Eui-yong, chief of the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae’s National Security Office. Group discussions ensued, covering ways to diplomatically achieve denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula, main policy objectives of the ROK government under the grave circumstance on the Korean Peninsula.

° Each group covered in depth “peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue,” “stronger global coordination on North Korean issues,” “diplomacy for peace on the Korean Peninsula,” and “diplomacy for a stronger peace on the Korean Peninsula during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” respectively.

2. At the first meeting of the mission chiefs since the launch of the current government, Chung Eui-yong, chief of Cheong Wa Dae’s National Security Office, mainly explained the policy priorities -- denuclearization and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula -- and the underpinning philosophy of statecraft of the Moon Jae-in government, which had been born out of a candlelight revolution. He also exchanged views with the mission chiefs on what roles the overseas missions should play to achieve those goals.

° In particular, Chung, calling the present a very important time for peacefully resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and building peace on the Korean Peninsula, asked the mission heads at the diplomatic forefront to make robust efforts to win international support for the ROK government’s policy toward North Korea and to create conditions for the resolution of the North’s nuclear issue.

3. In the group discussions that followed, the mission chiefs shared among themselves their on-the-ground experiences and relevant cases at the diplomatic front; and actively discussed diplomatic activities they should carry out in their host countries in a bid to induce North Korea to denuclearization talks and ultimately to build peace on the Korean Peninsula.

° In the group discussion on “peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue,” the senior diplomats shared assessments of developments in the North Korean nuclear and missile programs; drew a common understanding that it is of paramount importance to manage the situation in a stable manner and make diplomatic efforts to bring North Korea to meaningful dialogue; and agreed to induce their host countries to take an active part in and support the efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue.

° In the group discussion on “stronger global coordination on North Korean issues,” the mission chiefs, recognizing the importance of the international community’s thorough implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, exchanged views on country-specific measures they should take in working with their host countries to induce North Korea to dialogue.

° In the group discussion on “diplomacy for peace on the Korean Peninsula,” the mission heads drew a common understanding that in a bid to establish a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, a comprehensive approach is necessary with regard to both the North Korean nuclear issue and peace regime. They agreed to play roles necessary for winning from the international community a broader support for the ROK government’s efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

° In the group discussion on “diplomacy for a stronger peace on the Korean Peninsula during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” the senior diplomats shared the view that North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang sporting event will help mitigate the gravity of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and help improve the inter-Korean relations. They agreed to double diplomatic efforts to win the international community’s support for the work to make a success of the Pyeongchang event, which will take place under the slogan “Passion Connected.”

4. Going forward, the Foreign Ministry, building on the outcome of the meeting, will make strong efforts to manage the ROK’s outstanding issues in a stable manner and ultimately to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.


* unofficial translation