Press Briefing
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Cho Tai-young
Oct. 4, 2012 14:30 KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today I will make two announcements and then take your questions.

The first one is on the parliamentary inspection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This year’s inspection will begin at 10 a.m. on Oct 5 in the reception hall on the 18th floor of the MOFAT building.

A separate section will be set up for use by journalists in the reception hall, and the bilateral meeting room on the 17th floor will also be available for their convenience.

Next announcement is on the training program for diplomats from developing countries who will be invited to the Republic of Korea.

For two weeks from October 15 to 26, the Korea National Diplomatic Academy will conduct a training program for 22 diplomats from 21 developing nations.

The training program is one of the development cooperation projects implemented by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Since 2000, diplomats of developing nations have been invited to the ROK every year to take part in training sessions at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy.

Through the program, the diplomats learn about the culture, history and foreign policies of the ROK. They are also given an opportunity to visit cultural and industrial facilities in the country.

We hope the program will help the diplomats better understand Korea and enhance friendly relations with the participating countries.

For your reference, a total of 254 diplomats from developing countries have participated in the training program since 2000.

This is all for my opening statement.

[Q&A]

Q: The UN Security Council election is just around the corner. Please tell us about the efforts made by the ROK government to re-join the Security Council and its chance of being elected. Furthermore, if the ROK is elected, what authorities will it be granted and/or what is the expected effect?

A: The ROK government has been exerting the full range of multi-dimensional efforts to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. As you must be aware, in order to be elected, candidate countries must gather a 2/3 support of all nations voting in the aforementioned election.

Even at this very moment, we are making our best efforts to win support of even one more country and will continue to do so until the very end. As for the likelihood of our being elected, I will not foretell the outcome of the election yet to be held. Let me just stress that we will make our utmost efforts.

As you are aware, the UN Security Council, composed of non- and permanent member states, is an arena for discussions on highly important global issues.

If elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, the ROK, a middle power country with the world’s approximately 10th–largest economy, will make efforts to promote the global peace and security and to further develop the international community.

Q: Talk abounds with regard to the evasion of military service by children of officials of the Foreign Ministry and its affiliated organizations. This can be viewed as a highly personal matter. Yet, people involved are public servants. The public takes a critical view on this issue. Please tell us the Foreign Ministry’s position on this as well as measures to be taken against those involved.

A: We deem it deeply regrettable that this issue has become a cause of concern. The parents involved must be feeling a moral responsibility over this matter. To my knowledge, among those covered in the press report, those charged will undergo legal procedures.

As for the other cases, there is no legal ground for taking measures against the parents. As I have just told you, the parents of those involved must be feeling a moral responsibility over this issue and the Foreign Ministry will make every possible effort to prevent this from recurring.

Q: A Japanese press report said that Japan would unilaterally refer the issue over Dokdo to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Could you tell us whether this is true? Also, what information or details does the ROK government have in this regard? Please clarify once again the ROK government’s position on this issue.

A: The information in the report has not been verified. Yet, let me stress once again that instead of undermining the ROK-Japan relations and hurting the sentiment of the ROK people by reiterating unjustified claims to Dokdo, the Japanese government should immediately withdraw such unjust claims and work to develop bilateral relations.

I will conclude today’s briefing. Thank you.

* unofficial translation