Press Briefing
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kwang-il
Apr. 7, 2015 15:00 KST


Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.


Today, I have four announcements to make.

First, let me announce the MOFA Spokesperson’s statement on the description of the ROK-Japan relations in Japan’s Diplomatic Bluebook 2015.

Despite repeated warnings from the Government of the Republic of Korea, the Japanese government repeated a historically retrogressive move on April 7 by passing through its Cabinet Diplomatic Bluebook 2015 containing wrongful claims on Dokdo and the issue of sexual slavery victims drafted by Japan’s Imperial Army during World War II. The move came after its provocative step on April 6 of approving middle school textbooks that describe historical facts in a way that they are distorted, understated and/or omitted.

For all such groundless claims by the Japanese government, it is impossible to erase or alter the historical truths that Dokdo, an integral part of the territory of the Republic of Korea, was first sacrificed in the course of the forcible colonization of the Korean Peninsula by imperial Japan; and that the victims of Japan’s military sexual slavery suffered untold pain and wounds after being forcibly recruited.

The Japanese government should recall and bear in mind the remarks by Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany that her country “will always have the responsibility of ensuring the knowledge about these atrocities is passed on, and of keeping the memories alive”; and ask itself why post-war Germany is respected by the international community.

Moving on to the second announcement, on April 8, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will attend the ceremony at the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) to mark its 24th anniversary.

At the event, the Foreign Minister will offer congratulations to KINU, the cradle of research on unification and relevant policies, on its 24th anniversary and deliver congratulatory remarks to speak about the ROK government’s efforts to implement “global trustpolitik.”

The Minister will also voice hope that KINU will be a reliable partner in realizing the ROK’s dream of unification.

Thirdly, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yong will meet with his Australian counterpart Peter Varghese on April 8.

In the meeting, the two sides will exchange views on a wide range of matters, including ways to promote the ROK-Australia relations, such as through high-level exchanges; the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region; and ways to work more closely together on security and national defense.

The vice foreign ministerial meeting between the ROK and Australia, which hold foreign and defense ministers’ (2+2) meetings and deputy ministerial strategic dialogue with each other, is expected to serve as an opportunity to step up their strategic communication on their relations as well as regional and global issues.

On the heels of the meeting with his ROK counterpart, Secretary Varghese will pay a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se.

Lastly, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, in his capacity as the ROK government delegate, will attend and deliver congratulatory remarks at the reception to be held on April 8 to mark the 25th anniversary of the ROK-Mongolia diplomatic relations.

The reception will be hosted by the Mongolian Embassy in the ROK to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ROK-Mongolia diplomatic relations this year.

Minister of Education, Culture and Science Luvsannyam Gantumur will attend as the government delegate of Mongolia the reception, which will also bring together leading figures of the two countries and foreign diplomats stationed in the ROK.

This is all for my opening statement.


[Q&A]

Q: According to the statement you have just read, Japan’s Diplomatic Bluebook 2015 contains wrongful claims on the issue of sexual slavery victims drafted by Japan’s Imperial Army during World War II. What specifically are wrongful claims?

A: What are wrongful claims contained in Japan’s Diplomatic Bluebook 2015? Well, the essence of the issue concerning the victims of Japan’s military sexual slavery is that Japan should admit to the involvement of Japan’s military in the sexual enslavement as well as to its coercive nature. The ROK will not accept anything less than a clear acknowledgment of this.

Q: How specifically is this issue of sexual slavery victims described in Japan’s Diplomatic Bluebook?

A: I will double-check the exact wording on the issue in the Diplomatic Bluebook and let you know after this press briefing.

Q: I have one further question. The MOFA Spokesperson’s statements and/or commentaries issued in response to problematic content in Japan’s Diplomatic Bluebook and/or authorized textbooks always included expressions of condemnation, regret or protest, or such words as “strongly.” Nevertheless, both of the statements issued yesterday and today do not have such expressions. Is there any particular reason for that?

A: As I recall it, the word “condemn” was used in the relevant statement issued last year, particularly with regard to (Japan’s provocation over) Dokdo. Regardless, I believe that you should try to understand the statements in the overall context. The ROK government thinks that the statements issued yesterday and today, although they do not include the expressions you have referred to, demonstrate the ROK government’s stern position.

Q: I have an additional question. To my understanding, each expression of diplomatic rhetoric, such as “condemn,” “protest” and “regret,” shows the extent of the displeasure of the ROK government. Their absence from the aforementioned statements somehow makes me think that there seems to be some sort of change, although you told us that we should get the essence of those statements from their overall context.

A: I find it somewhat unacceptable that just because the word “condemn” is not used in the statements, you are getting the message that we are not denouncing the Japanese moves. You can find in the statement expressions imbued with our stern position, I think. I believe that the phrase “it is impossible to erase or alter the historical truths” carries a strong message, although it is up to you to decide that.

The ROK government does not compare the intensity of messages carried by the statements or commentaries issued last year and this year.

Q: My question is also about Japan’s Diplomatic Bluebook, the statement on which you read. My question is about something that is not in the statement. Until August 2014, the Japanese government described the ROK as a country that shares with Japan such basic values as liberty, democracy and basic human rights, as well as interests. This description has been deleted, with Japan currently calling the ROK the “most important neighboring country.” What, if any, is the ROK Foreign Ministry’s position in that regard?

A: Basically speaking, I deem it unnecessary for the ROK government to discuss or comment on the change in the description by the Japanese government. What is of paramount importance is not the way the Japanese government describes its relations with the ROK. Rather, the Japanese government, while squarely facing the current situation of bilateral relations, should deliberate sincerely on how to undo its past wrongdoings in order to move the relations forward in a future-oriented way, and make efforts to that end.

Q: An ROK-Japan security policy consultation will reportedly take place in Seoul late this month. Has a final decision been made in that regard? If not, what is the ROK government’s outlook for that meeting?

A: I think that you are referring to the bilateral director-general-level security dialogue. As I recall it, at their bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the trilateral meeting with their Chinese counterpart last month, the ROK and Japanese Foreign Ministers shared the view that the two sides need communication on security matters and agreed to communicate in that regard. Against that backdrop, the two countries are seeking to hold a 2+2 director-general-level security dialogue between their Foreign and Defense Ministries, although they have yet to agree on its specific timing. We will announce the timing when it is set.

Q: I have one more question. In response to the release of Japan’s Diplomatic Bluebooks and announcement of the authorization of school textbooks with problematic contents, the ROK government has always issued MOFA Spokesperson’s statements or commentaries and summoned Japanese diplomats to the ROK to lodge protest. Despite repeated counteractions by the ROK government, the Japanese government fails to show any change in attitude. Under the circumstances, some go so far as to argue that the Japanese school textbooks approved yesterday include more retrogressive content, with some others critical of the effectiveness and efficiency of the ROK government’s repeated response measures in the form of protests. What do you make of these views?

A: I deem it definitely necessary to issue statements or commentaries and summon Japan’s Ambassador or other diplomats to the ROK to lodge a stern protest and deliver the ROK government’s position on problematic moves by the Japanese government. To my knowledge, the ROK government is looking into the need for response measures other than those you have just mentioned.

I will conclude today’s briefing. Thank you.


* unofficial translation