Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

May 31, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have four announcements to make.

First, let me share with you progress in the US-North Korea consultations on the forthcoming bilateral summit talks.

As you must be aware, the US and North Korea are currently holding in Singapore working-level consultations on protocols and other administrative matters regarding the upcoming bilateral summit meeting.

Meanwhile, at the truce village of Panmunjeom, consultations on the main topics and details to be covered at the summit meeting are under way between the US and North Korean delegations that are led by Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and Vice Foreign Minister Choi Sun-hee, respectively. Likewise, close consultations are also taking place between the Republic of Korea, led by the Foreign Ministry Office of Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, and the US.

In addition, currently in New York, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of (North) Korea are also in consultations. As announced by the US Department of State, Secretary of State Pompeo will hold a press conference at 3:15 am, tomorrow, June 1, Korea Standard Time.

As I told you at my previous press briefing, the ROK and the US are holding consultations with each other at various levels through diverse diplomatic channels nearly on a daily basis, as can be seen from Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha having telephone conversations with Secretary of State Pompeo as often as necessary.

The ROK government is also communicating closely with such neighboring countries as Japan, China and Russia. Among the consultations taking place (with these countries) at various levels are those during mutual visits, over the telephone and with their embassies in the ROK, etc. Through these activities, the ROK government is sharing with the relevant countries assessments of the developments and situation as often as necessary and working with them to move in the same direction. I would like to let you know that among these activities and consultations with the neighboring countries are not only those that have been shared with the public but also other various forms of communication and consultation that have not been.

Moving along, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will meet with European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourouva on June 1.

The Minister and the Commissioner will discuss the adequacy decision regarding the out-of-area transfer of personal information pursuant to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in force since May 25; and ways that the ROK and the EU can work together in the digital era.

Thirdly, Minister Kang will hold a working luncheon with Secretary-General Elhadj As Sy of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on June 1.

The two sides will exchange views on ways to increase substantive ROK-IFRC cooperation in such areas as disaster relief in the Asia-Pacific region; and discuss humanitarian assistance to those affected by disasters and climate change across the world.  

Lastly, Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam, together with Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov of Russia, will hold the sixth ROK-Russia vice foreign ministerial strategic dialogue at the ROK Foreign Ministry on June 1. In their meeting, the Vice and Deputy Ministers will extensively discuss the way forward for the ROK-Russia bilateral relations, the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, and major regional and global issues, thereby bolstering strategic communication between the two countries.

That concludes my opening statement.

[Q&A]

Q: You have just shared with us progress (in the US-North Korea consultations). Let me ask you about more specific details. Working-level consultations are currently under way (between the US and North Korea) in Singapore with regard to protocols and other administrative matters, right? I would like to know whether not only the US and North Korea but also the Foreign Ministry of Singapore, the host country of the event, is taking part in and being vocal at the consultations.

A: I deem that the government of Singapore, as the host country of the forthcoming (US-North Korea summit) meeting, is rendering assistance as necessary.

Q: I have two questions. In your previous press briefing, you said that you could not share with us specifics regarding the Panmunjeom meeting, but you discussed them in your opening statement today. Did you do so today because there has been some kind of change between then and now? As you said in your opening statement, China, Japan and Russia are moving rapidly, with some raising the possibility of a North Korea-China-Russia summit meeting taking place. Shouldn’t the ROK Foreign Ministry take preventive measures in response?

A: In answer to your first question, let me say that basically, it is still inappropriate for me to give you specific details regarding the US-North Korea negotiations. Nevertheless, considering what Korean media outlets may need or want to know, I included a general picture in that regard in the opening statement of today’s press briefing.

Moving on to your second question regarding the possibility of a North Korea-China-Russia trilateral meeting, the ROK government is meticulously monitoring relevant developments and the situation. By the way, to my knowledge, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson (of China) said in the press briefing on May 30 that she had not been informed of it.

Also, with respect to various matters relating to communication with Japan, China and Russia, please refer to what I said in my opening statement. Anyway, I would like to let you know that the current situation being very grave and sensitive in many ways, a variety of potentially sensitive diplomatic activities is being conducted behind closed doors.

Q: You mentioned earlier that the ROK government is communicating with China and Japan. The possibility of an ROK-US-North Korea meeting taking place in the wake of the US-North Korea summit talks on June 12 is currently being put forward. According to analyses by experts, if that (an ROK-US-North Korea meeting) happens, China should also join it. What, if any, is under discussion with China in this regard?

A: Let me reiterate what I told you about it the other day: That will be pursued after close consultations with governments of North Korea and other relevant countries.

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

* unofficial translation