Press Briefing
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Cho Tai-young
Feb. 13, 2014 14:30 KST


Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have two announcements to make.

First, as we already let you know, US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit the Republic of Korea later this afternoon and meet with Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se at the Foreign Ministry from 6:30 p.m.

On the heels of their meeting, from 7:15 p.m., the Minister and the Secretary will hold a joint press conference, followed by a working dinner at the Minister’s official residence.

Moving on to the second and last announcement, William Swing, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), will visit the ROK from February 17 through 19.

During his visit to the country, Director-General Swing will meet with Foreign Minister Yun, attend a working luncheon with Lee Jeong-gwan, Ambassador for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs, and visit relevant government agencies.

In their meeting, the Foreign Minister and the Director-General will discuss humanitarian assistance, ways for the ROK and the IOM to work together to protect ROK nationals during emergencies overseas and ways for ROK nationals to expand their presence in the IOM.

The IOM, an intergovernmental organization established in 1951, has 450 offices across the world to extend support to immigrant laborers, refugees and internally displaced persons(IDPs).

For your information, the ROK acceded to the IOM as a full member in November 1988, after which the IOM Seoul office and the IOM Migration Policy Institute were established in 1999 and 2009, respectively.

Through such cooperation, the ROK and the IOM have been strengthening their relations.

This is all for my opening statement.


[Q&A]

Q: The US government announced today that US President Barack Obama will visit the ROK and Japan this April. What does the ROK government make of his trip to Japan as well as to the ROK?

A: As you know, President Park Geun-hye, during her visit to the US in May last year, invited President Obama to visit the ROK. And to my understanding, early today, Korean time, the US government announced President Obama’s plan to visit the ROK, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines.

With regard to the planned visit of President Obama to Japan, I have no particular comments to make.

Q: I have a related question. With regard to President Obama’s planned visit to the ROK, according to many press reports, Japan had asked President Obama to pay a secret visit to Japan, and when this fact was revealed, the ROK requested through various channels that he visit the ROK as well. Is this true?

A: I forgot to say one thing in answer to the previous question. President Park, during her visit to the US in May last year, invited President Obama to visit the ROK, and it has been announced that President Obama will visit the country.

The ROK government welcomes the planned visit of President Obama to the ROK. It also believes that the visit will serve as an opportunity to upgrade the bilateral ties to a higher level.

As for the process of finalizing the plan announced today, I know nothing about it. It would be better for you to inquire of the US government in that regard.

Q: At the high-level inter-Korean meeting held in the border village of Panmunjeom yesterday, the North Korean delegation mentioned that its nuclear issue is not something to be discussed between the two Koreas. What does the ROK government make of this view?

A: As the Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson, I am not personally aware of all the details of the high-level inter-Korean meeting held yesterday.

Generally speaking, it is the steadfast and unchanged position of the ROK government that for inter-Korean relations to move forward in a proper way, tangible progress should be made with regard to the North Korean nuclear issue.

Q: I have a further question. What agenda item do you expect to be discussed during the upcoming visit of President Obama to the ROK? What issues do you think the ROK government wants to discuss with the US side?

A: A review of the issues discussed at the past ROK-US summits would probably give you an idea.

There are matters that the two countries closely consult on, which of course include important bilateral issues. In addition, issues concerning North Korea will obviously be closely consulted on. The two countries have always focused on ways to prompt North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs and join the regional and the international communities as a responsible member.

These important agenda items are expected to be discussed during President Obama’s visit to the ROK as well. And the consultation on these issues is expected to help the ROK-US alliance move further forward.

Q: I have a further question. Do you certainly expect the ROK-Japan relations to be covered in the upcoming ROK-US summit?

I am asking this as the timing of the visit will likely coincide with the Annual Spring Festival of the Yasukuni Shrine.

A: Well. According to the announcement by the US government, President Obama will visit the ROK, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines in late April, until when two months remains. I, in particular, cannot foretell right here what the ROK and the US Presidents will discuss.

Let me make this clear in answer to your question: Japan should make efforts to create a situation where discussions on the ROK-Japan relations are not called for.

To elaborate, many people say that the ROK-Japan relations have recently become strained. It is clear and self-evident which party should make active efforts to untie the knot that has been tied. I reiterated this right here on numerous occasions.

It is even more important for the Japanese government, through such efforts as well as sincere words and actions, to create a situation where discussions on the ROK-Japan relations are not necessary.

Q: Former Prime Minister Murayama of Japan is currently on a visit to the ROK. He gave a lecture at the National Assembly yesterday, which I heard in person. In the lecture, he voiced his confidence that incumbent Prime Minister Abe could not deny the Murayama statement. He seems to have expressed his view that the Abe government basically inherits the Murayama statement.

Is it the ROK government’s view that the Abe government currently and indeed does so?

A: As I recall, the Abe government itself spoke of its position at parliamentary interpellation sessions and on other occasions that it inherits such statements issued by former Japanese governments. This position should be upheld and demonstrated through befitting words and actions.

If words and actions do not match, it naturally triggers doubts about the sincerity of words. This is what I meant by giving reasons to doubt. Therefore, it seems important for the Japanese government to refrain from giving such reasons but take actions that match the words it has already said and show remorse in efforts to move its relations with the ROK forward.

It is important for the Japanese government to be careful about what it says and does so as not to make wounds worse and prolong their healing process, and to make good on its promises.

Q: The ROK Foreign Ministry announced yesterday the results of the survey it conducted among participants of the Working Holiday Program. Nearly a half of the respondents cited the communication as their biggest challenge.

The Ministry conducted this survey as some Korean students in the Working Holiday Program in Australia got involved in accidents last year. What does the ROK Foreign Ministry judge is the biggest problem with the Working Holiday Program in Australia? What measures is the Ministry considering taking to solve it?

A: Australia is the country where the largest number of ROK nationals head on Working Holiday visas. A whopping majority of them do so. And, very regrettably, some mishaps involving Korean participants in the Working Holiday Program occurred in Australia.

The Foreign Ministry has held many rounds of discussions on ways to prevent Korean participants from getting involved in such accidents and reviewed possible preventive measures in consultation with the mission concerned.

As a result of such efforts, a number of measures have been put in place, a significant one of which is the assistance center set up at a mission in Australia. Those with problems can contact the center to obtain advice and discuss their issues.

The Foreign Ministry has drawn up a number of preventive measure as ways to improve relevant matters, which were already explained to the public in a press release.

The Foreign Ministry will continue making its utmost efforts for many people to benefit from this good Working Holiday Program and prevent them from getting involved in any mishaps while in the program.

Q: Again, what does the ROK Foreign Ministry judge is the biggest problem with the Working Holiday Program in Australia?

A: As I have just said, some of those who headed to Australia to take part in the Working Holiday Program happened to find themselves in unfortunate situations, which the Foreign Ministry views as the biggest problem.

Thus, the Foreign Ministry conducted internal reviews on ways to prevent such situations. The Ministry gathered opinions of its overseas missions, consulted with other relevant government agencies and mapped out measures to improve the program-related matters and prevent mishaps, as I have just told you.

As for issues concerning interpretation/translation and language barrier, we will seek ways to help those with such issues to the extent possible. Nonetheless, it is in effect impossible for overseas missions to resolve language issues for all those who come to their host countries for the Working Holiday Program. I am of the opinion that individual participants should have measures of their own ready and at hand to protect themselves.


I will conclude today’s briefing if you have no further questions. Thank you.


* unofficial translation