Press Briefing
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Cho Tai-young
Dec. 5, 2013 14:30 KST


Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I will make one announcement and then take your questions.

The Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS) of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA), together with The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University (Shorenstein APAR), will host the 11th Korea-US West Coast Strategic Forum at the KNDA on December 10.

The closed-door Forum themed “Building on 60 Years of Alliance Success” will cover the ROK-US alliance, North Korean issues, and the situation in Northeast Asia.

The ROK participants will include faculty members of IFANS as well as other relevant experts such as former Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, and professors Kim Sung-han and Lee Jung-min of Korea and Yonsei Universities, respectively.

The US delegation will consist of former high-level officials and Korean Peninsula experts, including Shorenstein APAR Director Shin Gi-wook, former Ambassadors to Japan and the ROK Michael Armacost and Kathleen Stephens, respectively, and Dr. Siegfried Hecker.

This is all for my opening statement.


[Q&A]

Q: US Vice President Joe Biden will arrive in the ROK later this evening. Please share with us the main agenda items that he and ROK government officials will exchange views on during his visit. With regard to the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) issue, in particular, what position will the ROK government convey to the Vice President?

A: In a nutshell, during the US Vice President’s visit to the ROK, the two sides are expected to extensively discuss key matters of mutual concern, including bilateral, North Korean and global issues.

With regard to the ADIZ issue, an adequate explanation is expected to be provided after the meeting. As I have already told you, the ROK government will finalize and announce its position within this week.

Q: I have a related question. You have told us that discussions are under way on the ADIZ issue. To what extent is this issue being discussed? For instance, is there a procedure for winning some sort of “consent,” if not approval? Or, are the discussions just part of “ordinary, routine” ones? Please tell us the specific extent this issue is or will be discussed to.

A: I guess you might be disappointed with the answer I am about to give you. It is neither possible nor appropriate for me to predict before the meeting takes place to what extent and how the issue will be discussed there. I would kindly ask you to wait until after the meeting.

Q: Let me rephrase my question. Please tell us about a possible link between the US Vice President’s visit to the ROK and the ROK government’s plan to finalize and announce its position this week as well as how much significance the ROK is attaching to the visit under the circumstances.

A: Let me tell you this one thing: As I understand it, the KADIZ is determined and enforced by the ROK government.

Q: To my knowledge, with regard to the ROK’s plan to expand the KADIZ, Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State Marie Harf mentioned that the US government would set its position after further review. I construe her remarks as indicating that the US government is currently in the process of reviewing the ROK’s plan. I would like to know whether some of relevant details have already been shared between the two countries through bilateral channels.

A: I am not aware of exactly what Deputy Spokesperson Harf has said. And, I am not in a position to interpret her remarks for you. As I told you a little ago, I understand that the ROK determines and enforces its own ADIZ.

Q: If the ROK determines and enforces its own ADIZ, then I don’t understand why this issue will be discussed with the Vice President. It could be considered somewhat inconsistent. I would like your clarification on that.

A: Well. I don’t see any inconsistency there. To my understanding, we determine and enforce our own ADIZ.

Q: During his visits to Japan and China, Vice President Biden made remarks on the ADIZ issue. What does the ROK Foreign Ministry make of those remarks?

A: You are asking a barrage of questions today that are particularly hard for me to answer. As I mentioned a little ago, it is inappropriate for me, as Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, to publicly comment or convey a position on remarks made by US Vice President Biden.

Q: You told us moments ago that the ROK determines and enforces its ADIZ. Can we understand that the decision will be just notified (to other countries)?

A: I am well aware of your keen interest in this ADIZ issue. To my understanding, as the ROK government has already announced, it will make and announce its final decision within this week. I also understand that a comprehensive explanation will accompany the announcement.

Q: Some people point out that the ADIZ issue is probably linked to the one concerning the demarcation of exclusive economic zones (EEZs). Does the ROK government deem that these two issues are linked to or separate from each other?

A: Under relevant international law, they are not linked. Put differently, the establishment of an ADIZ does not affect the EEZs in the relevant area.

Q: You said that a decision will be made this week. Does it include this coming Sunday?

A: I don’t deem that I am in a position to give you such a detailed answer.

Q: With regard to the ADIZ issue, will the ROK government notify China and/or Japan of its decision prior to the announcement? Or will they be notified after the announcement?

A: Again, I understand that the ROK government will give a comprehensive explanation on its position at the time of the announcement.

Q: Relevant officials point out that amid the tension triggered by China’s new ADIZ, there is a growing need to hold a ROK-US-Japan dialogue on security strategy.

In terms of the ROK-Japan dialogue on security strategy, the Japanese government appears willing to hold it as soon as possible. Please share with us the ROK government’s position on that. Also, are consultations under way to set a specific date for the dialogue?

A: Let me get this right first: By this ROK-Japan dialogue on security strategy, are you referring to about the 2+2 director-general-level security policy consultation? (Yes, that’s right.)

The ROK and Japan held the bilateral 2+2 (the Foreign and Defense Ministries) director-general-level security policy consultation in the past. However, this meeting has remained suspended in recent years.

Some raise the need to resume the meeting. However, its specific date has not been set yet, although relevant talks are under way.

Q: I have a question on a different issue. The reported dismissal of North Korea’s Jang Song-thaek from key posts is raising curiosity. What, if any, have you learned about the whereabouts of North Korean Ambassador to Malaysia Jang Yong-chul through diplomatic channels?

A: The Foreign Ministry, on its part, is paying close attention to the issue. It is trying to obtain relevant information through its overseas missions. I understand that nothing has been confirmed in that regard, though.

Thank you. I will conclude today’s briefing.

* unofficial translation