Press Briefing
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Cho Tai-young
Apr. 3, 2014 14:30 KST


Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have four announcements to make.

First, on the sidelines of their ongoing 2014 meeting, heads of overseas diplomatic missions of the Republic of Korea will visit Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Gyeongsangnam-do (province) tomorrow, April 4, to see for themselves how T-50 advanced training jets, Korean-made defense exports, are built.

The Foreign Ministry, in view that exporting defense products calls for comprehensive negotiating capabilities, including political judgment and economic considerations, deems that mission heads can contribute greatly in this regard.

With this in mind, the Ministry arranged this event for the mission heads, who carry out sales diplomacy at diplomatic fronts, to see more clearly the excellence of the ROK’s defense technology and to contribute more to diplomacy for the exportation of defense products.

The event will be attended by not only the mission heads but also relevant officials of the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

Moving on to the second announcement, the ninth ROK-Spain Policy Consultation will take place at the Foreign Ministry on April 7.

The ROK and the Spanish delegations to the meeting will be led by First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yong and his Spanish counterpart Gonzalo Benito, respectively.

In the meeting to take place in four years, the two sides will discuss ways to promote bilateral trade and investment; step up cooperation in new and renewable energy between the ROK and Spain, a powerhouse in the sector; and boost people-to-people and cultural exchanges, including the Working Holiday Program. Furthermore, the two sides will exchange views on the situations on the Korean Peninsula as well as in Northeast Asia and Europe.

They will also discuss ways to work together on the global stage, including conducting joint development cooperation projects in Latin America, where Spain maintains close relations with many countries in terms of history and culture.

Thirdly, the fifth meeting of the ROK-Israel Joint Economic Committee will take place at the Foreign Ministry on April 7.

The ROK and the Israeli delegations to the meeting will be led by the Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Ahn Chong-ghee and Director of the Foreign Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economy Ohad Cohen, respectively.

The meeting will cover ways to step up cooperation on creative economy with Israel, a so-called “start-up nation.”

In particular, with regard to the “industrial engine for creative economy” project pursued by the ROK government, the two sides will discuss the possibility of conducting a joint study.

The two sides will also discuss issues directly related to the lives of the ROK people, including the need for a bilateral FTA, the text of an agreement on the mutual recognition of driver’s licenses, the issue of bringing into force the bilateral Working Holiday agreement concluded in November 2013, and ways for Korean business people to obtain work visas from Israel.

Lastly, the Foreign Ministry published on April 2 a collection of cases in the year 2013 where its overseas diplomatic missions successfully helped Korean companies expand their presence and operate overseas.

The volume contains 148 exemplary success cases reported by 77 overseas missions, which are categorized into cases of resolving challenges facing companies; helping solve the issue concerning unpaid amounts; supporting corporate efforts to explore foreign markets and participate in procurement markets; and supporting efforts to seek employment and establish businesses overseas.

The Foreign Ministry will continue extending utmost support to Korean companies, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are working to enter foreign markets, such as by resolving various challenges facing them.

This is all for my opening statement.


[Q&A]

Q: At the Japanese parliament yesterday, the country’s former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobuo Ishihara mentioned that the ROK had made many demands when the Kono Statement was being drawn up. Is this true?

A: The ROK government has reiterated on uncountable occasions its position on the issue of sexual slavery victims drafted for Japan’s Imperial Armed Forces. What is necessary is a resolution, and not a re-examination, of the issue. Let me stress once again that as the victims are very old, the Japanese government should resolve this issue as soon as possible.

Q: Please tell us whether the schedules have been set for US President Obama’s visit to the ROK and the ROK-US-Japan meeting of head delegates to the Six-Party Talks.

A: I understand that the schedule for President Obama’s visit to the ROK will be announced by both countries at an appropriate time. As for the ROK-US-Japan meeting of head delegates to the Six-Party Talks, I believe that its schedule will be announced at an appropriate time in the near future as well.

Q: How are consultations moving forward with regard to the ROK-Japan director-general-level meeting, which was likely to take place in April? When will the two countries likely hold the meeting?

A: Consultations are currently under way. I fully understand that you, as reporters covering this matter, must be interested in knowing what progress has been made in these consultations. However, as I always say, diplomatic protocols call for announcing such matters at the same, agreed-upon time. When progress is made and it is time to announce it, we will give you relevant details.

Q: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is scheduled to visit the ROK next week. What does the ROK government make of this planned visit? There is another thing. I have heard that the negotiations on an ROK-Australia FTA will be wrapped up next week. Is this true?

A: Australia is one of the very important allies of the ROK. Furthermore, the two countries have a long history of relations, during which they have seen their relations develop into highly mutually beneficial ties. The ROK very much values Australia as a partner and, I think, vice versa.

The ROK-Australia relations have grown close in the full range of sectors, including politics, economy and security. To give you an example of the close bilateral ties, the two countries hold Foreign and Defense Ministers’, also known as 2+2, meetings.

In this vein, the ROK sincerely welcomes the upcoming visit to the country by the Prime Minister of one of its close friends, Australia. In terms of the ROK-Australia FTA, I believe an explanation will be given to you at an appropriate time.

Q: Going back to the proposed ROK-US-Japan meeting on the North Korean nuclear issue, the post of the ROK’s head delegate to the Six-Party Talks is currently vacant. Who will represent the ROK government at the meeting? Is there a plan to hold an ROK-Japan bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the trilateral one?

A: In terms of personnel management matters, I do not think that I am in a position to discuss them. As for the plan to hold an ROK-Japan bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ROK-US-Japan meeting of head delegates to the Six-Party Talks, I have heard nothing about it, yet.

Q: Earlier today, the ROK Foreign Minister mentioned that should the Japanese government take a provocative step, such as in announcing the outcome of the examination of Japanese school textbooks scheduled for tomorrow, stern measures will be taken. Please tell us once again what measures the ROK Foreign Ministry means by stern measures.

A: Before answering that question, let me stress this once again.

Japan should stop right this minute laying unjust claims to Dokdo. It is deeply regrettable that despite uncountable calls from the ROK government to do so, the Japanese government has failed to show any change in attitude.

Japan should squarely face history and teach to its posterity the lessons from history as they are. This is the way to usher in a bright future.

In that vein, I believe that Japanese textbooks, in line with this principle, should contain correct information. As for stern measures, please wait and see for yourselves.

I will conclude today’s briefing. Thank you.


* unofficial translation