1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha attended the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held on September 9 in a virtual format following the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. In the meeting, Minister Kang discussed the accomplishments and the future direction of EAS cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global affairs, including issues on the Korean Peninsula.

2. Minister Kang, recalling that the EAS has played the role as a premier ‘leaders-led strategic forum’ amid rapid geopolitical and economic evolution of East Asia, noted with appreciation that the EAS has been broadening the horizons of its discussions to embrace not only key regional issues, such as issues on the Korean Peninsula, the South China Sea, and regional cooperative initiatives, but also regional health security including COVID-19 response, as well as women, security, and peace.

o In particular, with this year marking the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security, the EAS is working to adopt a statement on the issue at the Summit this year. Minister Kang expressed the government of the Republic of Korea’s commitment to continue its contribution to the development of women, peace, and security agenda, including by participating in the adoption of the statement as a co-sponsor.

3. In addition, Minister Kang said that their response to the spread of COVID-19 was an opportunity to affirm the need for regional collaboration and cooperation. She went on to say that the efforts of the EAS, a consultative mechanism led by the leaders, to consolidate the leaders’ political will to strengthen and institutionalize responses to infectious diseases have direct effects on maintaining regional peace and security, and stressed that the ROK government will also take an active part in the discussion and support it.

o Minister Kang, together with a number of other ministers, underlined the importance of ensuring equitable access to and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

4. Minister Kang emphasized that despite the challenges during the past year in advancing the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, the efforts to achieve complete denuclearization and establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula should continue in line with the visions and strategic directions through the Panmunjom Declaration, the Pyongyang Joint Declaration, and the Singapore Joint Statement agreed by the leaders of the ROK, the DPRK, and the U.S.. She further called for international community's support, including the EAS, for the ROK government’s efforts to faithfully implement the agreements and to resume dialogue at the earliest possible date.

o Minister Kang explained the ROK government’s efforts and firm will to improve the lives of the North Korean people and advance inter-Korean relations through cooperation in the fields of disease control, public health, and humanitarian assistance in the face of non-traditional security threats such as COVID-19.

o Ministers from other participating countries mentioned the importance of early resumption of dialogue and full implementation of the agreements among the leaders of the ROK, the DPRK, and the U.S., as well as the necessity to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions in order to achieve denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

5. On the South China Sea issue, Minister Kang noted that peace and stability in the South China Sea are also important for regional prosperity, and stressed the importance of safeguarding the freedom of navigation and overflight in and above the South China Sea and resolving disputes peacefully through dialogue.

o In addition, Minister Kang expressed hope that actions that could increase tensions or worsen the situation in the South China Sea would be prevented, the commitment to its demilitarization would be fulfilled, and the discussion on the South China Sea Code of Conduct would proceed in a way that conforms to international law and respects the rights and interests of all countries.

6. The participants of the meeting agreed on the need to work together on and develop various regional initiatives based on the key principles presented in the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” including openness, inclusiveness, transparency, and respect for international law.

o Minister Kang expressed support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. She also said that she looks forward to harmonious cooperation between the ROK government’s New Southern Policy and other countries’ regional cooperative initiatives, and suggested that they continue to strengthen regional connectivity for co-prosperity.

7. The participating countries agreed to continue constructive discussions on challenges faced by the international community based on today’s discussions, and continue close consultations to produce relevant outcomes, including the Ha Noi Declaration to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the EAS and other statements that the EAS is pushing to adopt at this year’s East Asia Summit.