Press Briefing
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kwang-il
Mar. 26, 2015 15:00 KST


Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have four announcements to make.

First, in response to the crash of the Germanwings Flight 9525 on March 24, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se sent a letter of consolation to his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier on March 25.

In the letter, Minister Yun expressed heart-felt condolences and consolation to Minister Steinmeier and the bereaved families of the victims who must be deeply saddened by the plane crash, as well as his hope that the German people will overcome this difficult time with their inner strength.

Moving on to the second announcement, the 2015 meeting of chiefs of overseas diplomatic missions will take place from March 30 through April 4.

For the first time in ten years since 2005, the meeting will bring together the chiefs of all the overseas missions, including the Ambassadors and the Consuls-General, at once. At the meeting, the 176 Ambassadors and Consuls-General representing the ROK across the world will discuss specific and substantive diplomatic strategies mainly for implementing global multi-faceted diplomacy, achieving economic innovation and ensuring the Korean people’s safety and happiness.

The forthcoming meeting of the mission chiefs is expected to serve as a valuable opportunity to review and revamp the system for carrying out diplomacy in an all-out, leading and preemptive manner and thereby turning diplomatic challenges facing the Republic of Korea into a chance.

Thirdly, the “2014 Youngsan Diplomat” Awards ceremony will take place in Seoul on March 27.

The “Youngsan Diplomat” Awards are presented to selected government officials and civilians in recognition of their efforts to promote national interests and enhance the ROK’s national image at the diplomatic front.

The “2014 Youngsan Diplomat” Awards will go to Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Oh Joon and professor Lee Yang-hee of Sungkyunkwan University. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will deliver congratulatory remarks at the event.

Lastly, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will meet with a delegation from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (CCGA), including its President Ivo Daalder, on March 27.

For your information, the CCGA delegation is on a visit to the ROK from March 25 through 29 to learn more about the political and economic situations in Northeast Asia.

In the meeting, Minister Yun will explain in detail the ROK government’s unification policy, the North Korean nuclear issue and the situation on the Korean Peninsula as well as the overall situation in Northeast Asia, including the ROK-Japan relations. By doing so, he will seek to enhance understanding in and win broader support from the US with regard to key issues concerning the ROK.

I will conclude today’s briefing. Thank you.


* unofficial translation