Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

June 7, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will attend the third meeting of the “Foreign Ministry’s outside advisory committee for innovation,” to be held on June 8.

The outside advisory committee for innovation was created to objectively review the progress in implementing innovation in the Foreign Ministry from an outside perspective.

In the upcoming meeting, participants will hold in-depth discussions on major tasks for innovation regarding personnel management, organization, and education and training, including the creation of the center for diplomacy with the people, and the office of the director for inspection.

This is all for my opening statement.

[Q&A]

Q: Please tell us if there are any plans or schedules for our Foreign Ministry officials’ visit to Singapore for the US-North Korea summit.

A: The Foreign Ministry’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, officials from his Office, and the Deputy Spokesperson and other officials from the Spokesperson’s Office will make an official trip to Singapore to support your reporting activities and carry out necessary diplomatic activities.

Q: How many officials will depart from here on what date?

A: About ten officials will make the trip, and they will depart for the country on Sunday.

Q: You said that the Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs will go to Singapore. Let me ask you once again if the Foreign Minister does not have any plans to visit the country.

A: She has no plans to do so.

Q: There were some reports that the Japanese top negotiator to the Six-Party Talks said that he will go to Singapore during the US-North Korea summit. Are there any plans for a meeting of the ROK and Japanese top negotiators to the Six-Party Talks or other engagements during the period?

A: I have not heard anything about that. I will check once again, but as far as we know, there are no such plans at this point.

Q: You told us who from the Foreign Ministry will visit Singapore. In addition to the Foreign Ministry officials, how many officials from which government agencies will also go to the country? Also, I received a text message regarding the Korea Press Center a few minutes ago. Does this only apply to journalists registered with the Foreign Ministry, or can journalists not registered with the Ministry also register with the Spokesperson’s Office for access?

A: I heard that the Korea Press Center can accommodate not only journalists registered with the Foreign Ministry, but also those registered with other government agencies, including the Ministry of Unification, and the Ministry of National Defense, and foreign journalists registered with the Foreign Ministry, as there are many seats reserved for them. So, if you contact the Spokesperson’s Office, we will be able to help you with that in consultation with the Korea Press Foundation. Regarding who will be dispatched from the ROK government, I think Cheong Wa Dae already gave information on that. From the National Security Office of Cheong Wa Dae, the second vice chief and other officials will go to Singapore. From the Foreign Ministry, as I have already said, the Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, and officials from the Spokesperson’s Office will go to the country. To my understanding, officials from the Ministry of Unification and a few from relevant government agencies will also travel to Singapore.

Q: I heard that the Foreign Minister of Singapore visited North Korea to discuss the US-North Korea summit. Have you been informed of anything on that?

A: We do not have any information on that.

Q: I would like to ask you how discussions on a declaration to end the Korean War are going. In your last briefing, you said that the ROK will consult with countries concerned, including North Korea. Are there any communications on that underway with North Korea? I will ask another question after you answer this question.

A: Discussions on the declaration to end the war among the ROK, North Korea and the US are currently underway. The ROK government will continue to closely consult with the US and North Korea to make sure that an end to the war is declared as early as possible.

Q: I have additional question. What conditions need to be met to declare an end to the war? For example, what conditions need to be fulfilled regarding denuclearization to declare an end to the war?

A: As related discussions are ongoing, I will refrain from specifically talking about conditions or other issues regarding that.

Q: I have another question on the declaration of the end of the war. Some people are arguing that to prevent an agreement on or commitment to CVID from being delayed, the denuclearization process and other specific details should be spelled out in an agreement, and sincerity towards nuclear dismantlement can only be confirmed in that way. They are saying that the declaration of the end of the war, or any compensation to North Korea could come after that. What is the Foreign Ministry’s position on this?

A: Consultations on such denuclearization issues are currently underway between the US and North Korea ahead of the US-North Korea summit. The declaration ending the Korean War is also related to that. So, we will not specifically mention anything about such things being discussed right now.

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

* unofficial translation