Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

January 25, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have two announcements to make.

Let me start with the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s statement on Japan’s establishment of a permanent Dokdo exhibition hall in Tokyo.

The government of the Republic of Korea strongly protests the Japanese government’s establishment on January 25 of the “National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty” in Tokyo to promote its unjust claims to Dokdo, -- an integral part of the ROK territory -- and sternly demands an immediate closure of the facility.

The Japanese government should immediately stop such futile attempts over Dokdo, which is clearly an integral part of the ROK territory historically, geographically and under international law, and remind itself that a correct view of history is the foundation of the ROK-Japan relations.

Moving on to the second and last topic, the fourth ROK-EU cyber policy consultation will take place at the Foreign Ministry on January 30, followed by the first meeting of the bilateral special working group on counter-terrorism the next day, January 31.

The ROK head delegates to the cyber policy consultation and the meeting of the special working group on counter-terrorism will be Ambassador for International Security Affairs Moon Duk-ho and Director-General for International Organizations Lee Jang-keun, respectively. Meanwhile, at both meetings, the EU delegation will be led by Director for the Security Policy and Conflict Prevention Pawel Herczynsk of the European External Action Service.

The ROK government has been holding the cyber policy consultation with the EU on an annual basis since 2014. The inaugural meeting of the special working group on counter-terrorism will come as a result of the 13th meeting of the ROK-EU Joint Committee in June 2016.

The forthcoming bilateral meetings are expected to help further bolster the “future-oriented partnership” between the ROK and the EU.

This is all for my opening statement.

[Q&A]

Q: Under Secretary of the Treasury Mandelker of the US visited the ROK today, January 25. Please share with us the purpose of her visit and her schedule here. Some, in particular, say that she is scheduled to meet with a senior official of the Foreign Ministry. Please tell us whether this is true. If the meeting indeed takes place, will matters related to sanctions against North Korea be up for discussion?

A: Under Secretary Mandelker’s visit to the ROK is part of her East Asia tour, which is taking her to Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon of the Foreign Ministry held a working luncheon with the Under Secretary.

Over the luncheon, the two sides discussed in depth sanctions against North Korea and the North’s nuclear issue, including the implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the new, unilateral US sanctions against North Korea.

The two sides, sharing the view that with regard to sanctioning and pressuring North Korea, the ROK and the US are in watertight coordination, agreed to continue close bilateral coordination in sanctioning and pressuring North Korea and thereby inducing the North to denuclearization talks.

On a side note, the US side expressed wish for a peaceful and successful PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Q: Regarding what you have just said, the US has announced new, unilateral sanctions against North Korea. What does the ROK Foreign Ministry make of this US move?

A: The US government, by subjecting additional individuals and entities to its unilateral sanctions, is seen to have reaffirmed its commitment to the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. And this US move is seen as part of the joint efforts of the international community to enforce tough sanctions and put pressure on North Korea, and thereby to lead the North to take the path toward denuclearization.

The ROK and the US, in order to achieve the shared goal of a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue, will continue close coordination and consultation with each other at every level.

Q: Please tell us whether the ROK government has coordinated (with the US government) on this (in the lead-up to the expansion of the blacklist).

A: The ROK and the US, in order to achieve the shared goal of a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue, have consulted and coordinately closely with each other on the full range of relevant matters, and will continue to do so.

Q: Will the Japanese Ambassador (to the ROK) be summoned over the Japanese move (to establish the “National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty”) today, January 25? Have other follow-up measures been taken, or will they be?

A: I will check and share with you what I can.

Q: An ROK-US-Japan summit will reportedly take place during the PyeongChang Olympics. Will it indeed be held?

A: You are referring to a trilateral meeting among the ROK, the US and Japan, right? It has not been mulled over yet.

Q: At a meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan on January 24, a senior official of the Japanese Foreign Ministry mentioned that efforts will be made for Japanese groups at various places to block the installation of girl statues (in memory of “comfort women”). I would like to know the ROK Foreign Ministry’s position about this.

A: I have no special comment in that regard.

Do you have any further questions? If not, this will be all for today’s briefing. Thank you.

* unofficial translation