Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

June 14, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have one announcement to make.

Earlier today, June 14, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, together with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of the US who was on a visit to the Republic of Korea on the heels of the recent US-North Korea summit talks, held an ROK-US foreign ministerial meeting. The two top diplomats were then joined by Foreign Minister Taro Kono of Japan, who was also on a visit to the ROK, for an ROK-US-Japan foreign ministerial meeting. A working luncheon between the ROK and Japanese Foreign Ministers ensued.

In their meeting, the top diplomats of the ROK and the US shared the understanding that the US-North Korea summit meeting had been successful, building a historic milestone toward a complete denuclearization and a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula; and agreed to double diplomatic efforts in water-tight coordination between the ROK and the US in order to achieve tangible progress toward a complete denuclearization on the back of the successful summit talks.

The two sides also drew a common understanding that in the wake of the successful inter-Korean and the US-North Korean summit talks, it is important to thoroughly prepare for follow-up negotiations to seek a complete and swift implementation of the measures agreed upon at the summit talks. On that note, they agreed to fine-tune more closely with each other at various levels possible joint strategies to that end.

In the ROK-US-Japan meeting, the Foreign Ministers and the Secretary, attributing the success of the US-North Korea summit talks to robust cooperation among the three countries, agreed to continue water-tight coordination and consultations among them toward a complete denuclearization and a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

At their working luncheon, the ROK and Japanese Foreign Ministers, calling it very important for the ROK and Japan to work together in having the success of the US-North Korea summit meeting lead to a complete denuclearization and an enduring peace on the Korea      n Peninsula, agreed to continue making constructive contributions to that end in cooperation with each other.

That concludes my opening statement. I will now take your questions.

[Q&A]

Q: What is the ROK and the US’ plan regarding bilateral consultations on ways to follow up on the US-North Korea summit talks? Is there a consultative mechanism for that?

A: Up until now, the ROK and the US have been coordinating very closely with each other at various levels on North Korean issues; and will step up bilateral communication and consultation to seek a swift and faithful implementation of the measures agreed upon at the inter-Korean and US-North Korea summit talks.

Q: In his press interview in the wake of the US-North Korea summit meeting, President Trump mentioned that the two countries would start denuclearization negotiations the next week. What, if any, did the US side share with the ROK side regarding next steps at the foreign ministerial meeting held earlier today?

A: I believe that that the US and North Korea will start follow-up consultations in the near future. Nevertheless, I deem it inappropriate for the ROK government to discuss this.

Q: At the press conference earlier today, Foreign Minister Kono of Japan said that the ROK, the US and Japan will seek to achieve the shared goal by dismantling weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and ballistic missiles of all ranges, and by achieving a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization (CVID). Did the three countries agree to dismantle all WMDs and all ballistic missiles? Please elaborate on this.

A: I believe so. Let me check more about it and share with you what I can.

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

* unofficial translation