Press Briefing
Cho Tai-young, Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations
Sep. 11, 2012 14:30 KST


Good afternoon. Let me start today's Briefing.

I will begin with four announcements and then take your questions.

First is the government's position on Prime Minister Noda's campaign commitment to unilaterally file a Dokdo lawsuit with the International Court of Justice.

At yesterday's joint press conference by candidates running in the Japanese ruling Democratic Party’s primary, Prime Minister Noda announced his campaign commitment to unilaterally refer the Dokdo issue to the International Court of Justice. The Japanese government has also started circulating newspaper advertisements with a preposterous message that Dokdo is Japanese territory.

It needs to be reminded that we had somberly pointed out in the 1954 Note Verbal sent to Tokyo that their insistence for a joint referral of Dokdo to the ICJ was a deceptive argument exploiting the international legal system. 60 years have passed, but instead of progressing towards the future, Japan is moving backwards by mentioning its plan to unilaterally refer Dokdo to the ICJ.

We urge the Japanese government to move towards the future with the correct understanding of history.

Next is the news on the MOU signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and domestic airline industries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade today (9.11) finalized a Memorandum of Understanding with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.

The main contents of this MOU was that Korean Air and Asiana Airlines will actively support the government's overseas dispatch of emergency response teams when there is a natural disaster in other parts of the world. The two airlines have agreed to cooperate with the government to the fullest extent on issues such renting chartered plane, seat arrangements and securing freight space.

The agreement will enable our government to rapidly and effectively dispatch an emergency response team overseas when a major natural disaster occurs abroad. Furthermore, the government's rapid relief measures is expected to improve Korea's international status.

Thirdly, earthquakes struck China's Yunnan province on September 7th. The ROK government agreed to provide China with humanitarian aid worth USD 500,000. We are currently discussing the details of such aid with our Chinese counterparts.

Following the earthquake, President Lee Myung-Bak sent a letter of condolences to President Hu Jintao on September 8th. Furthermore, when President Lee met President Hu at the APEC Summit Meeting, he expressed his condolences once again, wishing a swift recovery in the earthquake-hit areas.

The last announcement is on Enrique Garcia's visit to Korea. Enrique Garcia is the President of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and he will be visiting Korea from today through September 16th.

The Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) was established in 1970, and consists of 18 member states from Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. Ahn Ho-young, 1st Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, will be meeting President Garcia on September 14 and they will discuss cooperative measures between the Republic of Korea and the Development Bank of Latin America.

President Garcia will meet with the President of the Korea Exim Bank and the President of the Korea Finance Cooperation during his visit. He is also scheduled to attend the Latin America Korea Investors Forum.

This is all for my opening statement.


[Q&A]

Q. It has been reported that the government requested 4.2 billion KRW for next year's Dokdo budget. Could you confirm this? Could you also provide a reason for the budget increase?

A. Would you repeat your second question please?

Q. Can you give us a reason for the increase in budget for Dokdo?

A. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently discussing a budget proposal with our budget counterparts in government to seek a steep raise in next year’s budget for Dokdo. We understand that the relevant authorities are also considering this particular budget increase in favorable terms. I think it would be appropriate to reveal the specific details after the budget has been finalized. Japan should be well aware of our reasons for the budget increase.

Q. It is reported that China's Vice President Xi Jinping's whereabouts are unclear. Is there anything you know about this matter?

A. We do not have any information on that at the moment.

Q. Japan is currently running several advertisements on Dokdo. Could you repeat the Ministry's position on this once again? And could you also explain how the Ministry intends to counter such activities?

A. With regard to Japan's advertisements on Dokdo, I have already stated the government’s position in my earlier announcements. To repeat, Japan should stop their retrograde acts such as sending out advertisements with inaccurate arguments, and announcing its intentions to unilaterally refer Dokdo to the International Court of Justice. Instead, Japan should progress forward together with us based on a correct understanding of history. The government of the Republic of Korea will continue to make its utmost efforts to inform the international society of its position and to reveal the truth.

Q. What is Korea's position regarding the territorial disputes between China and Japan? How do you see these issues between the two countries?

A. With regard to your question, I do not have any particular comment.

* unofficial translation