Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

June 19, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

First, as Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said in her briefing yesterday, the government of the Republic of Korea, in close collaboration and cooperation with the US, is doing its best to implement the blueprint for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, which will lead to denuclearization, security guarantee, and a peace regime agreed upon between the leaders of the ROK and North Korea, and the leaders of the US and North Korea.

The US side is making preparations to push ahead with negotiations to follow up on the US-North Korea summit in a speedy manner. In preparation for follow-up negotiations between the US and North Korea, the ROK Foreign Ministry, mainly the Office of Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, is planning to hold policy consultations with the US, and discussing the appropriate timing.

Regarding this, communications and consultations are increasing at each level, including direct communications between Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Secretary Pompeo that have taken place frequently before and after the US-North Korea summit. In addition to such communications between the ROK and the US, the ROK will also make efforts to increase contacts among the ROK, North Korea, and the US, making use of diplomatic events attended by the three countries, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to be held in August.

Moving on to the next topic, the 22nd ROK-ASEAN Dialogue will take place at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul from June 20 to 21. It will be attended by Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu from the ROK side, as well as the ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General, and high-level officials from ASEAN member states, including Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia Kan Pharidh.

In the morning session of the ROK-ASEAN Dialogue, the participants will look at the progress made in economic, social and cultural cooperation between the two sides. In the afternoon session, they will hold a dialogue on security, and discuss security situations in the region, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula. In particular, in the upcoming Dialogue, the participants will discuss ways the ROK and ASEAN can work together to implement the New Southern Policy, announced by the ROK government in October last year.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will host a welcome dinner for delegations from ASEAN at the Foreign Minister’s official residence on June 20. In her remarks at the dinner, Minister Kang will reaffirm the ROK’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with ASEAN through the New Southern Policy, and ask for ASEAN’s continued support and cooperation to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Lastly, the Foreign Ministry will hold a ceremony to launch the “Action with Women and Peace” initiative and the advisory committee on the initiative at its center for diplomacy with the people this afternoon.

The ROK government has increased its activities within the UN in the areas of the promotion of the human rights of women, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding. The ROK government will especially seek ways to make more contributions in the area of women, peace, and security, the UN’s key agenda, including the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, through the “Action with Women and Peace” initiative, to be launched today.

The advisory committee to be launched together today will offer advice during the entire process of implementing the initiative.

This is all for my opening statement.

[Q&A]

Q: What does the ROK government make of Chairman Kim Jong-un’s third visit to China? Was the ROK notified of this by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in advance?

A: To answer your second question first, the governments of the ROK and China have been continuing to work together towards their common strategic goal of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and the establishment of a lasting peace on the Peninsula. The two countries are closely communicating and cooperating on related issues, including inter-Korean and US-North Korea exchanges. On your first question, as the situation develops on the Korean Peninsula, a lot of high-level contacts between neighboring countries are underway. During Chairman Kim’s last visit to China, the leaders of North Korea and China showed their willingness to actively pursue high-level exchanges between the two sides, and I think Chairman Kim’s latest visit to China is also part of that.

Q: Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono is arguing that Minister Kang Kyung-wha’s remarks yesterday that the Foreign Ministry will work for the “comfort women” issue to be discussed as a human rights issue go against the ROK-Japan agreement on the “comfort women” issue. What is the ROK government’s position on this?

A: The issue of peace and women, including sexual violence in conflict, has been discussed as a key agenda in the international community, including the UN. The Foreign Ministry is making efforts to actively participate in and contribute to such discussions in the international community. The “Action with Women and Peace” initiative to be launched today is part of such efforts. By exerting such efforts, the ROK government, as a responsible middle-power country, aims to contribute to promoting the human rights of women in conflict. This is not about raising an issue about a certain country. We do not think it is appropriate to link this with the agreement.

Q: I have a question on the ROK-US joint military drills. I heard that even the Pentagon did not know that President Trump was going to mention the suspension of the joint military drills in his press conference on June 12. I would like to know if the US side consulted with the ROK government in advance. If it did, what was the ROK government’s position?

A: The issue is handled by the Ministry of National Defense. Please contact the Ministry.

Q: You told us about the ROK government’s position on Chairman Kim’s visit to China. What impact do you expect the visit will have on negotiations on North Korea’s nuclear weapons, to be held mainly between the US and North Korea?

A: The governments of the ROK and China have the strategic common goal of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The ROK government is also always expecting the Chinese government to play a constructive role in resolving the issue. Thus, the ROK government hopes that Chairman Kim’s latest visit to China will be instrumental in that.

Q: I have another question. Some are expressing concern that if North Korea and China get too close, the impact of sanctions on North Korea could decrease. What do you think of this view?

A: The ROK government is watching closely related developments as part of efforts to faithfully implement relevant Security Council resolutions. China has expressed its commitment to sincerely and fully implementing Security Council resolutions on many occasions. The ROK government, in cooperation with the international community, has been continuing to exert necessary diplomatic efforts to ensure the full implementation of Security Council resolutions.

Q: Foreign Minister Kang said that she could meet with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho at the ARF in August. I would like to know if there has been any contact with North Korea, and if there has, what was the answer from the North?

A: To my understanding, by making the remark yesterday, Minister Kang meant to say that the ROK would begin to work for the meeting to take place.

Q: There are some reports that right after the inter-Korean summit, an ROK oil tanker was spotted transferring oil to a North Korean oil tanker in the East China Sea. Do you know about this? What do you make of this?

A: On that, we will check with related bureaus, and if there is anything we can share with you, we will do so. I will check further, and let you know later.

I will conclude today’s briefing. Thank you.

* unofficial translation