Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

April 19, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have three announcements to make.

First, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, together with Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui of Tunisia, will hold the tenth meeting of the Republic of Korea-Tunisia joint committee at the Foreign Ministry on April 23.

In the forthcoming joint committee meeting, the two countries will note with appreciation the advances in close, friendly and cooperative ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1969; and discuss ways that they can build on similar historical experiences of successfully achieving people-led regime transitions to step up bilateral substantive cooperation across the board, including political affairs, economy and development.

In addition, the two sides will exchange views on situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East and other parts of world, as well as ways to work together on the international stage.

Moving along, Minister Kang will attend the inauguration ceremony of the new Secretary-General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre to take place at the Press Center on April 23.

At the event, Minister Kang will deliver congratulatory remarks, offering congratulations to new, fourth Secretary-General Lee Hyuk and commending the ASEAN-Korea Centre for its contribution to efforts to enhance the ROK-ASEAN relations through its various projects designed to boost trade, investment, cultural exchanges and tourism.

Minister Kang will also ask that the ASEAN-Korea Centre, led by the new Secretary-General and ASEAN expert, continue working as a main channel for cooperation between the ROK and ASEAN.

Lastly, Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, together with Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Yan of China, will hold the 22nd meeting of the ROK-China joint economic committee in the latter country on April 20.

In the forthcoming meeting, the two sides will review the economic situations in the global community and the two countries as well as the progress in the bilateral economic cooperation; look into the progress in the implementation of key follow-up measures to the bilateral summit talks held in December 2017; and exchange views on major matters of mutual concern.

The two sides will also exchange views on possible specific cooperation projects in which the ROK’s New Northern and Southern Policies and China’s “One Belt and One Road” initiative are linked to each other, as well as on challenges facing companies.

The meeting of the joint economic committee will come as bilateral consultative mechanisms on economy have been back on track, with exchanges and cooperation growing, since the latest round of the bilateral summit talks. As such, the event is expected to serve as an opportunity to further reinforce the momentum of cooperation between the two countries.

That concludes my opening statement. I will now take your questions.

[Q&A]

Q: Please share with us what the ROK government thinks of the outcome of the recent US-Japan summit talks.

A: The US-Japan summit talks have just ended. I will discuss it with relevant bureaus and let you know.

Q: The US Department of State has announced that Susan Thornton, nominee for the post of the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs who is supervising the working-level preparations for the US-North Korea summit talks, will visit the ROK. What, if any, has been consulted with the ROK Foreign Ministry in this regard? Which Foreign Ministry officials is she scheduled to meet with?

A: Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Thornton will visit the ROK from April 22 till 24 for a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu. In their meeting, the two senior diplomats are expected to discuss in depth ways to work together toward the success of the forthcoming inter-Korean and US-North Korea summit talks, the denuclearization of North Korea, and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula; issues concerning the ROK-US relations and alliance; and the situation in Northeast Asia. Acting Assistant Secretary Thornton will also pay a courtesy call on the Foreign Minister and hold a meeting with the Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs.

Q: Yesterday, April 18, President Trump referred to an end to the Korean War, with Mike Pompeo said to have met with Kim Jong-un on April 1. Has the ROK government been aware of this?

A: The ROK and the US always maintain close coordination on issues involving the Korean Peninsula, especially North Korea.

Q: Are you saying that the ROK government was not aware of this?

A: As I have just said, the two countries maintain close coordination.

Q: According to a press report two days ago, a civic group mentioned that with regard to its plan to erect in front of the Japanese Consulate-General in Busan a statue in memory of forced laborers (during Japanese colonial rule), the (ROK) Foreign Ministry had articulated a somewhat negative position. Please share with us your position on that matter. With the (civic) group having revealed its plan to set up the statue on May 1, regardless, what measures will you take in response?

A: With regard to the proposed erection in front of the Japanese Consulate-General in Busan a statue in memory of forced laborers, the ROK Foreign Ministry sent out to the Busan Metropolitan City, and the City’s Dong-gu (district), the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and other groups involved on April 16 official letters in which the government’s position is articulated.

It was stated in the official letters that the installation in front of the Japanese Consulate-General in Busan a statue in memory of forced laborers would not be appropriate in terms of the international comity and practice regarding the protection of diplomatic missions, and would highly likely give rise to a diplomatic friction.

It was also articulated in the letters that as already suggested by the relevant provincial government agencies, it would be appropriate to erect the statue at such a proper place as the National Memorial Museum of Forced Mobilization under Japanese Occupation in Nam-gu, Busan, which the government had set up in memory of the victims of forced mobilization under Japanese colonial rule and to offer future generations historical education.

Moving on to your second question, I think that the government will review measures it can take as necessary in accordance with relevant law.

Q: In his summit talks with the US President, Prime Minister Abe of Japan raised the issue of Japanese abducted to North Korea, in response to which President Trump mentioned that the issue will be on the agenda of the US-North Korea summit meeting. From where North Korea stands, this agenda item could be something it is reluctant to discuss. Likewise, from the ROK’s standpoint, it could merely be an obstacle, as it is off track from other issues. What, if any, is the ROK Foreign Ministry’s position in this regard?

A: I will not comment on what was discussed at the US-Japan summit talks.

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

* unofficial translation