Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

May 15, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

First, let me read to you the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s commentary on the Diplomatic Bluebook 2018 of Japan.

The government of the Republic of Korea strongly protests the Japanese government’s repeated inclusion of unjust sovereignty claims over Dokdo, an integral part of the ROK’s territory, in its Diplomatic Bluebook issued on May 15. The ROK government strongly urges the Japanese government to immediately withdraw such claims.

The Japanese government should be aware that repeatedly making unjust claims over Dokdo is in no way conducive to the efforts to establish a future-oriented relationship between the ROK and Japan.

The ROK government makes it clear once again that the Japanese government’s futile claims over Dokdo cannot have any impact on the ROK’s sovereignty over Dokdo, which is clearly an integral part of the ROK’s territory in terms of history, geography and international law. The ROK government will respond sternly to any provocations by Japan over Dokdo.

That’s all for the commentary.

In this regard, the Foreign Ministry’s Director-General for Northeast Asian Affairs summoned earlier today, May 15, the Diplomatic Minister for General Affairs of the Japanese Embassy in the ROK to sternly protest the repeated decision of the Japanese Cabinet to issue an edition of the Diplomatic BlueBook that includes wrongful claims over Dokdo, the “comfort women” issue and the East Sea, and to demand an immediate withdrawal of the relevant parts from the Bluebook.

In particular, with respect to Japan’s wrongful claims concerning the name of the East Sea, the ROK government made it clear that it will never accept such claims, stressing that the “East Sea” is the right name that has been used in Korea for more than 2,000 years.

Moving along, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will meet with Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai of Thailand in Seoul on May 17.

The foreign ministerial meeting to come in the year marking the 60^th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations is expected to serve as an opportunity to discuss ways to enhance the bilateral relationship with Thailand, the ROK’s significant partner in implementing its New Southern Policy, as well as to advance the ROK-ASEAN ties.

Thirdly, on May 16, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will meet with Executive Director David Beasley of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), who is on a visit to the ROK.

With the year 2018 marking the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the ROK-WFP “Basic Agreement concerning Assistance from the World Food Programme,” the two sides will seek ways to work together toward a world with “Zero Hunger.”

In addition, the Minister and the Executive Director will exchange views on the outcome of the latter’s recent visit to North Korea; the WFP’s humanitarian assistance projects for North Korea; cooperation on humanitarian assistance to developing countries; food aid projects that may be conducted with rice produced in the ROK; and ways that ROK nationals can build presence in the WFP.

Lastly, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu will visit Moscow from May 16 till 18 for the 12th meeting of the ROK-Russia Far East and Siberia Subcommittee and the 18th bilateral vice ministerial policy consultation.

In the meeting of the ROK-Russia Far East and Siberia Subcommittee on May 16, Deputy Minister Yoon, together with Deputy Minister Alexander Krutikov for the Development of the Russian Far East, will discuss ways to increase substantive cooperation between the ROK and Russia’s Far East region.

The next day, May 17, Deputy Minister Yoon will hold a vice ministerial policy consultation with Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific affairs Igor Margulov of Russia, during which the two senior diplomats will exchange views on ways to increase high-level exchanges and substantive cooperation as well as the situation on the Korean Peninsula and ways to work together on the international stage.

That concludes my opening statement.

[Q&A]

Q: I have a question regarding the envisioned observation of the closure demonstration of a nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, North Korea. I heard that the Foreign Ministry oversees relevant matters. Has the Foreign Ministry been notified of or decided on the size of the observation group (to be dispatched to North Korea)?

A: The ROK government welcomes the North Korean decision to shut down a nuclear test site in Punggye-ri and hopes that the move will lead to tangible progress toward denuclearization. With regard to such details as the pool of journalists (to be dispatched to North Korea) to observe the closure process, there will shortly be an announcement.

Q: A bill, which calls for preventing the number of US Forces Korea members from dropping below 22,000, has reportedly been passed by an Armed Services Committee of the US Congress. What, if any, is the ROK government’s position on this?

A: You are referring to the need to win congressional approval for a cut (in the number of servicepeople), right? It seems inappropriate for the ROK government to discuss the specific content of a bill currently under review at the US Congress. Nevertheless, as US Forces Korea has been serving as a linchpin for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, the ROK and the US, based on the ironclad, combined defense posture, will coordinate closely with each other in the course of discussing ways to achieve the denuclearization and a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Q: According to the Ministry of Unification, it is still looking into the allegation that a plan was set for North Korean (restaurant) employees’ collective defection. Although it is not the government agency overseeing such affairs and has articulated its position on that matter, is the ROK Foreign Ministry reviewing or checking anything further in that regard?

A: As you have just said, the government agency supervising such affairs is currently offering explanations on that issue. There is nothing that the Foreign Ministry has to add to that.

Q: You said moments ago that Deputy Foreign Minister Yoon will meet with the Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East. On a side note, the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East has announced its plan to discuss (with North Korea) in June the project to construct a bridge across the Tumen River between Russia and North Korea. During his visit to Russia, will Deputy Foreign Minister Yoon discuss with the Russian government such matters as economic cooperation with North Korea?

A: With regard to specific matters Deputy Foreign Minister Yoon will discuss with the Russian government, I will check further and share with you what I can.

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

* unofficial translation