Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

May 8, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

First, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon will visit Washington, the US, from May 9 to 12 for meetings with key US administration officials handling issues on the Korean Peninsula, including Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton, and National Security Council (NSC) Senior Director for Asian Affairs Matthew Pottinger.

During the Special Representative’s visit to the US, the Republic of Korea and the United States will share with each other their assessments of the outcome of the latest inter-Korean summit, and discuss ways to work together in implementing the “Panmunjeom Declaration.”

In addition, the two sides will discuss various ways to successfully hold the forthcoming ROK-US and US-North Korea summits, and thereby achieve a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establish a lasting peace on the Peninsula. They will also coordinate a plan for a high-level ROK-US consultation.

Moving on to the next topic, on May 11, Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will meet with Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) William Lacy Swing, who will visit the ROK.

With this year marking the 30th anniversary of the ROK’s accession to the IOM, the two sides will look at the progress in cooperation between the ROK and the IOM, including the signing of the ROK-IOM cooperation agreement, and the establishment of the IOM Migration Research & Training Centre.

The two sides will also exchange views on other various issues, including the ROK government’s humanitarian assistance through the IOM, and ways to increase the number of Koreans working for the organization.

This is all for my opening statement.

[Q&A]

Q: What is the Foreign Ministry’s position on the visit to Dalian, China, by a North Korean official, possibly the highest-level official?

A: The ROK government is working to gather details on the situation. As China and North Korea have not made any official announcements, there is nothing we can confirm at this point.

Q: I have a related question. You said that there is nothing you can confirm, but I would like to know if there is any information or explanation that the Chinese side provided to the ROK.

A: The ROK and China are closely working together at each level on issues regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Q: Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Do-hyon said in a media interview that the reason behind the success of the latest inter-Korean summit was that pro-American diplomats did not come forward. What is the ROK government’s position on that?

A: I will not make specific comments on the remarks made by a head of a diplomatic mission in an interview. It is the first time for Ambassador Kim to be appointed as head of a diplomatic mission, and he assumed the post just a few days ago. There will be many opportunities for him to have media interviews, so the Foreign Ministry took necessary measures internally.

A: Please tell us what measures needed to be taken internally. Some are also criticizing that it is not appropriate for a head of a diplomatic mission to make such remarks, as his host country must also be closely watching his remarks. What do you make of this?

A: I will refrain from making specific comments on the matter.

Q: It appears that the US is increasing pressure, even mentioning North Korea’s biological and chemical weapons, and a halt to its launch of artificial satellites. Does the ROK government’s position remain unchanged that there is a difference in wording between CVID and PVID, but there is no big difference in meaning, as you said the other day?

A: Yes. Basically, we don’t think there is a difference in terminology between CVID and PVID.

Q: Do you mean there is no big difference in meaning?

A: Yes, I do.

Q: I have a related question. The expression “complete denuclearization” was used in the Panmunjeom Declaration, wasn’t it? You said that there is no big difference, then is it okay for us to think that the expression “complete denuclearization” used in the inter-Korean agreement means PVID?

A: We think that “complete” in the expression “complete denuclearization” covers a whole lot of elements.

Q: The US Secretary of State, as well as the national security adviser, talked about the dismantlement of weapons of mass destruction, going beyond the denuclearization of North Korea. I would like to know if it is also the ROK government’s position that going beyond the dismantlement of nuclear weapons, it must extend to the dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction in North Korea, including biological and chemical weapons.

A: We have also seen such reports, but we need to gather further information on the US government’s exact position on that. As I said in the opening statement, I think that we will continue to work to clarify such things during the Special Representative’s visit to the ROK and on other occasions, including a high-level official’s visit to the US, expected to take place.

Q: The North Korean side said that it will shut down its Punggye-ri nuclear test site in full view of the outside world, and invite experts from the ROK and the US to witness the shutdown. Please tell us if discussions are underway on the schedule of the ROK and US experts’ visit to the North.

A: The ROK government welcomes North Korea’s decision to shut down its nuclear test site at Punggye-ri, and hopes that the measure will lead to tangible progress in denuclearization. As far as I know, the North Korean side has not announced specific timing for the shutdown of the nuclear test site yet, so the ROK government will make detailed plans for witnessing the shutdown, after being notified by the North Korean side of its specific plans for the disclosure.

Q: When you talked about complete denuclearization, you said that it could have many different meanings. Then, can it be interpreted as meaning that the level of denuclearization that the ROK government can demand from North Korea at this point could change?

A: Let me tell you once again that complete denuclearization can cover many different elements.

Q: There are a lot of reports on the US-North Korea summit today, and especially it has been reported that the US and North Korea agreed on inspections of nuclear facilities without advance notice, and special inspections. Is there anything you can confirm regarding the report? Also, there is a lot of talk surrounding a venue for the summit, and even Singapore and Bangkok, Thailand, have been mentioned. What information do you have on this?

A: I have nothing to say with regard to your first question. On the second question, I do not think it is appropriate for the ROK side to talk about the position of the US publicly. But, we expect a date and venue to be announced soon.

Q: Reuters reported recently that officials from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will visit North Korea next week and discuss a flight route to the ROK. If this is true, it also concerns the ROK. Is there any information that the government has on this?

A: The issue of opening a new flight route that the North has raised with ICAO is being reviewed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. For further details, please contact the Ministry in charge of the issue. For your reference, as far as I know, the issue that North Korea has raised with ICAO is not about opening a direct route between Pyeongyang and Incheon, but about opening an international flight route to a third country that connects the Pyeongyang Flight Information Region (FIR) and the Incheon FIR.

I will conclude today’s briefing, if there are no further questions. Thank you.

* unofficial translation