Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

June 21, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have three announcements to make.

First, on June 25, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will meet with members of the ASEAN Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), which is comprised of the Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives to ASEAN from the ten ASEAN member states.

During its visit to the Republic of Korea from June 24 till 29 at the invitation of the ROK government, the CPR delegation will also pay a courtesy call on the Minister of Unification, attend an ROK-ASEAN forum at the National Assembly, hold a meeting with students of the Busan University of Foreign Studies, and visit the ASEAN-Korea Centre, the ASEAN Culture House, and the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) Secretariat. The CPR delegation’s forthcoming visit to the ROK is expected to serve as an opportunity to help ASEAN learn more about the ROK government’s New Southern Policy and to put in full gear the ROK-ASEAN cooperation for people, prosperity and peace -- the three major areas covered by the New Southern Policy.

Moving along, later in the day, June 25, Minister Kang will attend the opening ceremony of the “Korea-Africa Foundation,” an affiliate of the Foreign Ministry. 

The “Korea-Africa Foundation” is the Foreign Ministry’s fourth subsidiary body established pursuant to the law that was proclaimed and brought into force in October 2017 under the agreement between ruling and opposition parties. The launch of the Foundation demonstrates the ROK government’s commitment to diversifying its diplomacy and beefing up its diplomatic infrastructure.

The “Korea-Africa Foundation” will conduct expert research and studies on Africa and serve as a platform for cooperation with the region by supporting bids of Korean companies and particularly youth to build presence on the continent, and by helping to boost exchanges and cooperation between the private sectors of the two sides.

Lastly, Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, together with Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs George Katrougalos of Greece, will hold the third meeting of the ROK-Greece joint economic committee on June 22.

The two sides will discuss ways to work more closely together in the full range of economy-related areas, including the e-government system, science, technology, transportation, infrastructure, shipbuilding, maritime transport, culture, tourism and agriculture.

That concludes my opening statement.

[Q&A]

Q: President Trump has announced that the remains of 200 US soldiers killed in the Korean War were repatriated. I would like to know when and how that happened. Another thing. According to a press report, the ROK, the US, North Korea and China would get together sometime in July to declare an end to the Korean War. What, if any, do you know about this?

A: Answering your second question first, I know nothing about it. In answer to your first question about the reported repatriation of US soldiers’ remains, let me tell you that nothing has been verified in that regard. For further details, please inquire of the US government. The ROK government hopes that the measures -- including the repatriation of US troops’ remains -- agreed upon by the US and North Korean leaders at their summit talks on June 12 would be implemented in a swift manner and would thereby help to achieve the goal of a complete denuclearization and the establishment of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

Q: The fourth round of the ROK-US negotiations on sharing military costs will take place next week. Will the negotiations cover the total amount to be shouldered by the two countries for a peace momentum on the Korean Peninsula?

A: The ROK and the US, both recognizing the importance of the bilateral alliance and based on mutual trust, are working to move those consultations forward. Through continuous close communication, the two sides are expected to smooth over the differences in their positions and produce mutually satisfying results, as they have done so up until now.

Q: Very early yesterday, June 13, the US announced its decision to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council. What, if any, is the ROK government’s position on this US move? What impact will the US withdrawal have in raising North Korean human rights issue at the UN Human Rights Council?

A: The ROK government strongly supports the UN Human Rights Council’s role and efforts in the protection and promotion of human rights across the world. Despite the US decision to withdraw, the UN Human Rights Council should continue to faithfully carry out its mission of promoting human rights across the world, and the ROK government, on its part, will continue taking part in it.

Q: Going back to the ROK-US negotiations on sharing military costs, please share with us what the Foreign Ministry knows about the details discussed at the first, second and third rounds, and/or their results.

A: The Foreign Ministry handles matters related to shared military costs, about which we have offered explanations in an appropriate way.

Q: According to some press reports, the US-China trade conflict could hurt the ROK. What measures, if any, is the ROK Foreign Ministry drawing up to take in response?

A: Let me tell you that the Foreign Ministry is consulting closely with other relevant government agencies, while making diplomatic efforts as necessary.

Q: Concern lingers over possible further aftershocks in the wake of the earthquake in Osaka, Japan, where a number of Koreans reside, right? What measures, if any, is the ROK Foreign Ministry taking or planning to take to ensure the safety of the Korean residents there?

A: On the heels of the earthquake and on, the Foreign Ministry’s relevant bureau and the Consulate-General in Osaka have been working closely together to get to the bottom of the situation. So far, no Korean residents are known to have sustained particular, direct damage. Let me check further and share with you if there is anything to.

Q: I have another question. Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Christopher Ford of the US was reportedly due in the ROK this week for a consultation on the snap-back of sanctions against Iran. Have North Korean issues been covered as well? What, if any, was discussed on sanctions?

A: I have not been informed about the official’s visit to the ROK. Let me check and share with you if there is anything to.

Q: The ROK government has articulated on numerous occasions its position on sanctions against North Korea. The (Foreign) Minister also spoke to that, saying that the UN Security Council sanctions (against North Korea) could be eased or lifted only when concrete denuclearization steps are taken. Does that hold true for the ROK’s unilateral sanctions as well? Or, are there different criteria for unilateral sanctions?

A: As you must be aware, unilateral sanctions are imposed if and when the government of a certain country judges on its own that they are necessary. On the contrary, the UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea were imposed by consensus of the international community. Therefore, I believe that conditions and/or procedures for lifting sanctions imposed on North Korea unilaterally by individual countries cannot but be different from those for lifting the UN Security Council sanctions against the North.

Q: Then, what is the ROK government’s position regarding the possibility of lifting its unilateral sanctions?

A: I will check and let you know.

Do you have any further questions? If not, this will be all for today’s briefing. Thank you.

* unofficial translation