Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

May 24, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have two announcements to make.

First, on May 25, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will meet bilaterally with Foreign Ministers Aloysio Nunes Ferreira of Brazil, Eladio Loizaga Caballero of Paraguay and Rodolfo Nin Novoa of Uruguay, who are on a visit to the Republic of Korea to attend a ceremony to declare the start of the negotiations for a trade agreement (TA) between the ROK and the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR).

In the bilateral meetings, Foreign Minister Kang will ask the aforementioned countries to play an active role for smooth progress in ROK-MERCOSUR TA negotiations and discuss with her counterparts ways to step up bilateral cooperation.

She will also bring attention to improvements in the inter-Korean relations and the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, asking for the three countries’ constant attention and support in this regard.

Moving on to the second and last topic, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu, together with Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Teresa Ribeiro of Portugal, will hold the fifth ROK-Portugal policy consultation in Seoul on May 25. In the meeting, the two sides will review the steadily growing progress in overall bilateral relations, such as in the areas of trade and people-to-people exchanges; and discuss ways to increase substantive cooperation across the board, including political affairs, economy, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides will also exchange views on situations on the Korean Peninsula as well as in Europe and other parts of the world, and ways to work together at such international organizations as the UN and ASEM.

That concludes my opening statement.

[Q&A]

Q: Please share with us whatever the ROK government knows about preparations for the shutdown of a nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, North Korea.

A: Nothing has been confirmed so far regarding the timing and specific moves for the shutdown.

Q: According to some press reports, a high-level US-North Korea meeting will take place in Singapore this weekend. Please share with us what the ROK Foreign Ministry knows about this.

A: Preparations are under way by the US and North Korea in order to make a success of the bilateral summit talks and thereby to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Likewise, the ROK and the US are working and consulting closely with each other at various levels for the success of the US-North Korea summit meeting.

Q: The Singaporean government has notified those foreign media outlets wishing to cover the US-North Korea summit talks to register. Can this be viewed as a move by the Singaporean government to make official its plan to host the event?

A: To my knowledge, the Singaporean government has posted that information as media advisory for media outlets’ internal planning purposes.

Q: According to some news reports, in the wake of the US-North Korea summit talks in Singapore, an end to the Korean War will be declared in the presence of President Moon. How far have relevant preparations progressed in this regard?

A: At their recent summit talks, the ROK and US Presidents exchanged views on the possibility of the two countries and North Korea jointly proclaiming an end to the Korean War in the wake of the US-North Korea summit talks -- a proclamation that the ROK and North Korea had agreed to make, according to the Panmunjeom Declaration. Nevertheless, I deem it inappropriate to go into specifics discussed at the ROK-US meeting.

Q: Just ahead of their summit meeting, President Donald Trump and President Moon Jae-in held an impromptu press conference and answered questions from journalists, during which some mistranslations occurred. Some press reports refer to this as a diplomatic faux on the part of the US. What is the current position of the Foreign Ministry in this regard? What position does it plan to articulate to the US government, if it has a plan to do so?

A: It is my understanding that Cheong Wa Dae offered an explanation regarding that on the ROK delegation’s way back home. Please refer to that.

Q: A nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, North Korea, will likely be blown up later today. What information, such as on seismic waves and other relevant moves, is the ROK government gathering, that is, if you are doing so?

A: I believe that relevant government agencies are taking such steps as necessary.

Q: Earlier today, Vice Minister Choi Sun-hee of the North Korean Foreign Ministry delivered a statement. What does the ROK government make of this statement?

A: The ROK government is meticulously analyzing relevant, recent developments, including what you have just referred to. The government is consulting closely with the US and other related countries to seek ways that the US-North Korea summit meeting can help to achieve the goal of a complete denuclearization, a goal agreed upon at the recent inter-Korean summit talks.

Q: What, if any, has the ROK government discussed with such international organizations as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding ways to follow up on the envisioned shutdown of a nuclear test site in Punggye-ri? If the government has plans for such discussions, please tell us about them.

A: The shutdown of a Punggye-ri nuclear test site, when followed through, would mark the first step toward the denuclearization, which the ROK government expects to serve as a stepping stone to a complete denuclearization down the road. In answer to your question, let me say that I expect there to be discussions in the process.

If you have no further questions, this will be all for today’s briefing. Thank you.

* unofficial translation