Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

March 20, 2018  14:30 KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

The sixth ROK-IAEA High-Level Policy Consultation will take place at the Foreign Ministry on March 21.

In the consultation, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Oh Young-ju and IAEA Deputy Director General for Safeguards Tero Varjoranta will engage in extensive discussions on major nuclear proliferation challenges facing the international community, including the North Korean nuclear issue; ways to optimize IAEA safeguards; and cooperation between the ROK and the IAEA on safeguards.

The Foreign Ministry has held the ROK-IAEA High-Level Policy Consultation every year since 2013. The Ministry has been strengthening strategic communications with the IAEA through the consultation.

This is all for my opening statement.

[Q&A]

Q: In an interview, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha made some remarks on humanitarian assistance to North Korea. I would like to know if there has been any progress or moves regarding US$ 8 million in humanitarian aid that the ROK pledged to send to the North through international organizations.

A: I will check further, and if there is anything I can share with you, I will do so. As far as I know, no particular progress has been made so far.

Q: The public may not be familiar with the concept of “IAEA safeguards.” Please explain what the “IAEA safeguards” are.

Secondly, it has been reported that the IAEA Deputy Director General will also meet with Special Representative Lee Do-hoon. Please tell us the specific meeting schedule.

A: I will check it, and let you know later.

Also, you asked about safeguards. Safeguards are a series of activities undertaken to verify that nuclear materials or facilities for peaceful uses of nuclear energy are not diverted to make nuclear weapons or other explosive nuclear devices.

Q: According to the Foreign Ministry’s press release, in her meeting with the Swedish Foreign Minister, Minister Kang was briefed on the Swedish Foreign Minister’s meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho. Are there any further details that you can share with us?

A: We have already issued the press release, so please refer to that. It is somewhat difficult for us to give you further details, as it concerns relations between Sweden and a third country. I ask for your understanding.

Q: Has there been any progress in discussing the schedule for Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi’s visit to the ROK?

A: State Councilor Yang Jiechi was supposed to visit the ROK from March 21 to 22, but the two countries are coordinating the schedule again at the request of the Chinese side.

Q: Is any Foreign Ministry official participating or planning to participate in the subcommittee on agenda of the inter-Korean summit preparatory committee?

A: Yes. A Foreign Ministry official is serving on the subcommittee on agenda.

Q: Can you tell us specifically who that is?

A: The Special Representative is serving on the subcommittee on agenda.

Q: What is his role?

A: It would be a role related to the tasks he is carrying out at the Office of Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs.

Are there any more questions? If there are no further questions, I will conclude today’s briefing. Thank you.

* unofficial translation