Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

February 1, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have two announcements to make.

First, Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam, head of the task force for summit-level protocol for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, will oversee in person later today a joint exercise among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the PyeongChang Organizing Committee, the Presidential Security Service and the National Policy Agency, and will review the progress in the on-the-ground preparations in summit-level protocols.

The exercise, which will come eight days ahead of the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics, will simulate the real, forthcoming sporting event, with members of the task force feigning to be the Republic of Korea President and top-level figures of other countries.

Moving on to the second and last topic, the Foreign Ministry will host “the 2018 Conference on Nuclear Safety Cooperation” in Seoul on February 1 and 2, in which relevant experts from home and abroad will discuss ways to bolster nuclear safety.

In his welcoming remarks, Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will share with the other participants the ROK’s policy direction with nuclear safety as its top priority; and underscore the need for inter-national communication and cooperation to bolster nuclear safety.

The Conference will consist of a combined four sessions today and tomorrow, during which the participants will learn about advanced countries’ experiences in nuclear decommissioning and managing spent nuclear fuel as well as their safety policies; and will discuss the role that the IAEA and other international organizations can play for inter-national cooperation in that regard.

This is all for my opening statement. I will now take your questions.

[Q&A]

Q: The US Department of State mentioned that it does not prefer the North Korean military parade taking place on the eve of the PyeongChang Olympics, adding that nothing should happen to disturb the sporting event. It can be construed as indicating that in terms of its nature, this military parade is in effect highly provocative toward other countries. Yet, the ROK government is simply and continually arguing that the parade, being an event for domestic purposes, is unrelated to the PyeongChang Olympics. What does the ROK government make of the US Department of State’s position regarding the military parade?

A: We have seen relevant press reports. It is my understanding that the US government has articulated its position and expressed its expectation and hope with regard to the North Korean military parade expected to take place on February 8.

Q: I have a question about the withdrawal of the nomination of Victor Cha (as next US Ambassador to the ROK). With the withdrawal having come after the ROK government granted agrement, I would like to know whether the ROK Foreign Ministry considers the US move a diplomatic faux pas. The White House National Security Council (NSC) has been confirming this withdrawal to the press. Why does the ROK government remain unnotified of this, though? Some raise concern over this situation as a case of “Korea passing.” What is the ROK government’s position on this view?

A: Immediately after relevant press reports were issued yesterday, January 31, the US government asked for the ROK government’s understanding through a diplomatic channel, saying that it had sought to appoint a new ambassador to the ROK before the PyeongChang Winter Olympics but had failed to do so. The US government also asked for the ROK government’s understanding over the situation having been covered by the press before adequate consultations took place with the ROK government.

Q: According to some press reports, ROK Ambassador to Norway Park Keum-ok has resigned from the post voluntarily. Please give us more details about it -- why she did what she did, whether she took office and then resigned, and why her resignation was not made public while her assignment to Norway had been announced on January 1. Also, please share with us the background behind or reasons for not making her resignation public.

A: Shortly after her appointment to the post, Ambassador Park Keum-ok voiced her hope to resign over health issues and then resigned on January 19. Her health condition being a private matter, it is inappropriate for the ROK government to give you any further details about it. Basically, when asked about Ambassador Park by the press, we have just said that she resigned for health reasons. With regard to personnel matters regarding major senior officials, press releases are issued on their appointments, but not on their resignations.

And, her resignation came before her taking office as Ambassador to Norway. We were granted agrement, but she resigned even before receiving a letter of appointment and taking office.

Q: You mentioned earlier that the US government had offered an explanation on the withdrawal of the nomination of Victor Cha as next US Ambassador to the ROK. What did the US government say the reason behind the withdrawal was? Concerns have been raised over not so much the withdrawal itself as the reason behind it. I wonder whether the White House has given an explanation about it.

A: Basically, we have seen relevant press reports yesterday and again today. As you can see from those articles, basically, the content of those news reports is largely speculative. As for reasons (behind the withdrawal) and other personnel matters of the US government, I deem it inappropriate for us to discuss it. Nevertheless, in response to your reference to the concerns, let me tell you that with regard to policies toward North Korea, it is certain that the ROK and the US are on the same page and are coordinating and collaborating closely with each other.

Q: Many questions are being raised about the withdrawal of the nomination of Victor Cha as next US Ambassador to the ROK. I have a question for the Foreign Ministry. You have just called relevant US press reports speculative. After the withdrawal was finalized, when did the Foreign Ministry receive a report on that from the US Ambassador to the ROK? It seems strange that the US Ambassador did not know what was going on.

A: We gave you an explanation on relevant developments yesterday, and so please refer to it.

Q: In his State of the Union address yesterday, January 31, President Trump expressed the resolve to put pressure on North Korea to the extent possible. According to an analysis, putting North Korean defector Ji Seong-ho in the spotlight, he seemingly tried to bring attention to the North Korean human rights issue. What, if any, has the ROK government been informed by the US government in this regard? What is the ROK government’s position?

A: We have not received any explanation particularly about it. The State of the Union address was delivered yesterday, January 31, the US time, the content of which the ROK government is analyzing. It is the ROK government’s view that in his first State of the Union address since his inauguration delivered under the theme of “building a safe, strong and proud America,” President Trump discussed the achievements made over the past year and presented a vision for the future.

With regard to North Korea and its nuclear issue, to which the ROK government pays particular attention, in the State of the Union address, the Trump administration is seen to have once again expressed its strong commitment to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

It is a shared policy and position of the ROK and the US that they enforce sanctions and put pressure on North Korea and make the full range of diplomatic efforts in order to induce the North to denuclearization talks, and the two countries have been working continually together to this end. I believe that in the State of the Union address, the US government articulated this position once again.

Q: I would like to go back to the withdrawal of the nomination of Victor Cha, as you have not given us a clear answer. Doesn’t the withdrawal, as it came after agrement had been granted, constitute a grave diplomatic faux pas? The post of the US Ambassador to the ROK has remained vacant for a considerably long time, right? Please share with us the ROK government’s position about this.

A: Let me reiterate what I said earlier regarding whether the withdrawal is a diplomatic faux pas: The US government asked for the ROK government’s understanding over the matter having been covered by the press before adequate consultations took place with the ROK government.

The ROK and US governments have been working continuously together toward an early appointment of a US Ambassador to the ROK and will continue to do so. Let me reiterate that the two countries are communicating and cooperating closely with each other at all levels on the appointment of the US Ambassador to the ROK and various other issues.

Q: Ambassador Lee Sang-deok to Singapore has reportedly been assigned back to the headquarters. According to a press report issued earlier today, he is under probe over the alleged abuse of power. Is this true?

A: Ambassador Lee Sang-deok has been assigned back to the headquarters for personal reasons. Please understand that it is inappropriate for us to share with you every personal detail regarding Ambassador Lee.

Q: Let me go back to the Victor Cha case, because there is something about it I can hardly understand. You said that the US government had asked for the ROK government’s understanding over the withdrawal having been covered by the press before adequate consultations took place with the ROK government. Does that mean that the US government did not give a prior notification? Please clarify.

A: Yes. It means that press reports were issued before that.

This will be all for today’s briefing. Thank you.

* unofficial translation