Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

February 22, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon.

For starters, let me read to you the MOFA Spokesperson’s statement on the “Dokdo Day” event held by Shimane prefecture of Japan.

The government of the Republic of Korea expresses strong protest over the fact that the Japanese government is repeating unjustifiable claims to Dokdo, as can be seen from the attendance of a high-level official of the central government at the provocative “Dokdo day” event hosted by the country’s provincial government on February 22, and urges that the event be discontinued for good.

The Japanese government must immediately stop making such unjustifiable claims to Dokdo, which is clearly an integral part of the ROK territory historically, geographically and under international law, and demonstrate attitude as a responsible country that humbly and squarely faces history.

Let’s now get started with today’s briefing.

I have three announcements today.

First, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with a delegation from The Washington Times, a US newspaper company, today, February 22, during which the two sides exchanged views on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula and ways to beef up the ROK-US alliance.

Today’s meeting is seen to have served as an opportunity to help the major US media outlet better understand the ROK government’s policy toward the Korean Peninsula and to further bolster the support base in the US.

Moving along, later in the day, Minister Kang Kyung-wha will meet with Foreign Minister Timo Soini of Finland, who is on a visit to the ROK for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

In their meeting, the two top diplomats will exchange views on the ROK-Finland relations, ways to step up substantive cooperation, and the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe.

Lastly, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will visit Geneva, Switzerland, from February 25 till 28 for the 37th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and a Geneva Conference on Disarmament.

At the UNHRC high-level segment on February 26, Minister Kang will deliver a keynote speech, in which she will discuss ways to promote human rights across the world in 2018, the year marking the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; how the ROK will contribute to the efforts to promote international human rights, including sharing its experiences in human rights and democracy; the human rights issue in North Korea; and other major, relevant issues of concern.

At the Conference on Disarmament on February 27, the Minister will underscore the need for the unity of the international community toward a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue; share with the other participants the ROK government’s efforts to strengthen the international disarmament/non-proliferation regime; and relay its commitment to contribute in that regard.

On the sidelines of these multilateral meetings, Minister Kang will attend the signing ceremony of the agreement on the establishment of a Korea office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); and bilateral meetings with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and delegates from other main international organizations as well as foreign ministers of major countries attending the multilateral events.

This is all for my opening statement.

[Q&A]

Q: Please share with us the schedule (during the visit to the ROK) of Ivanka Trump and other high-level US delegates, and what the Foreign Ministry will do in terms of protocols.

A: As formally announced by the US government on February 21, local time, Ivanka Trump, a White House adviser, will, in her capacity as head of President Trump’s delegation, visit the ROK from February 23 till 26 for the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

The US delegation, including its leader Ivanka Trump, will attend the dinner that President Moon Jae-in and the First Lady will host at the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae on February 23.

To my knowledge, the US delegation will watch some Olympic games, offer encouragement to athletes, and attend the closing ceremony in Pyeongchang on February 24 and 25.

Meanwhile, President Moon Jae-in and the First Lady will host a dinner for White House adviser Ivanka and the other US delegates at the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae on February 23. Given the significance of Ms. Ivanka Trump’s upcoming visit to the ROK, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is in consultation with the US government over her schedule.

As for the level of protocol for Ms. Trump, a considerably high level of protocol will be implemented for her convenience and security.

Q: When Vice President Pence of the US visited the ROK, a Vice Foreign Minister went to the airport to welcome him. Will he go to the airport again to greet her?

A: Let me check and then share with you what I can.

Q: I have another related question. Does the high-level US delegation’s schedule on February 24 and 25, which you have just referred to, include nothing in Seoul?

A: It is my understanding that on February 24 and 25, the delegation will watch some Olympic games, offer encouragement to athletes, and attend the closing ceremony in Pyeongchang. That’s all I can tell you.

Q: Are you saying that the only thing finalized is the dinner to be hosted by President Moon Jae-in and the First Lady?

A: Arrangements for others are currently and still in the making.

Q: You said earlier that Minister Kang Kyung-wha will deliver a keynote speech at the forthcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council. Will she bring up the “comfort women” issue?

A: It is currently under review.

Q: Kim Yong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea (WPK) and Director of its United Front Department who has been included in the North Korean delegation, has been subject to the ROK’s unilateral sanctions since 2016 and the US sanctions since 2010. How is consultation progressing in this regard?

Kim Yong-chol was singled out as the mastermind behind the torpedoing of the Cheonan vessel. A little ago, a high-level official of Cheong Wa Dae mentioned that despite various speculations, no conclusion had been reached regarding the mastermind (behind the sinking). Does the Foreign Ministry share this view?

A: Let me start with your first question. It is the basic position of the ROK government that as it seeks to successfully host the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, it will stick to the framework of the international sanctions against North Korea. Accordingly, the ROK government is consulting closely with the US and others to explore ways that the upcoming visit to the ROK by the high-level North Korean delegation can take place within that framework.

Moving along, I have nothing particular to say in answer to your second question.

Q: I have a similar question to the previous one. Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol is subject to unilateral sanctions imposed on North Korea by not only the US but also the UK, Australia and many others. Are consultations under way with these countries as well?

A: Close consultations are ongoing with the international community, including the US.

Q: What form are consultations being held in? Is cooperation being requested through embassies?

A: Let me just tell you that consultations are taking place through diplomatic channels.

Q: With Minister Kang’s visit to Geneva for a UN Human Rights Council session and a Conference on Disarmament to coincide with the visit to the ROK by a high-level North Korean delegation, some speculate that the Minister might take a somewhat soft tone over the human rights situation in North Korea while delivering rather tough remarks on the “comfort women” issue. What do you say her rhetoric level will be with regard to the North Korean human rights issue?

A: An international consensus has been reached as to the gravity of the human rights situation in North Korea. The ROK government has been expressing its commitment to continue working with the international community to seek tangible improvements in the situation of the North Korean human rights as universal ones.

The text of the (Minister’s) keynote speech is currently under review. The ROK government will take part in the UN Human Rights Council activities in line with the basic position it has articulated all along.

Q: The plan for a US-North Korea meeting has been scrapped. As for the US position, Secretary of State Tillerson has said, “We are ready to have the first meeting without precondition. Let's just meet. We can talk about the weather if you want.”

Nevertheless, according to recent press reports, there seem to have been diverse views represented in the US position, but currently, the US position clearly consists of two large categories of views. A press report said that in a White House meeting, Vice President Pence had been instructed not to even bring up the word “negotiations.”

What is the ROK government’s view on the US guidelines on its meetings with North Korea and its attitude toward dialogue with the North, be it preliminary or exploratory?

A: For starters, with regard to the information in The Washington Post article you have just referred, as the Foreign Minister has mentioned at the National Assembly, there is nothing for the ROK government to verify officially.

Moving along, you have referred to various views, but I have nothing particular to share with you in that regard.

Q: The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae mentioned that there will be no formal meeting between the US and North Korea for now. Will the Foreign Ministry not try to make a high-level US-North Korea meeting happen, either?

A: I have nothing to share with you in that regard as well.

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

* unofficial translation