Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

August 28, 2018  14:30  KST

First, let me read to you the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s commentary on the “Defense of Japan 2018.”

The government of the Republic of Korea strongly protests against the Japanese government’s repeated inclusion of unjust claims over Dokdo, an integral part of the ROK’s territory, in the “Defense of Japan 2018” released on August 28, and urges the Japanese government to immediately withdraw such claims.

The Japanese government should be aware that repeatedly making unjust and preposterous claims over Dokdo is in no way conducive to the efforts to establish a future-oriented ROK-Japan relationship.

The ROK government makes it clear once again that the Japanese government’s unjust claims over Dokdo cannot have any impact on the ROK’s sovereignty over Dokdo, which is clearly an integral part of the ROK’s territory in terms of history, geography and international law. The ROK government will continue to respond sternly to any Japanese provocations over Dokdo.

Now, I will start today’s briefing.

Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will meet with a delegation from the Washington Times, an American newspaper, at the Foreign Ministry on August 29.

The visit to the ROK by a delegation from the Washington Times marks the second this year, following the visit in February. The delegation consists of former government officials and key figures in the media and academia of the US. In his meeting with the delegation, Vice Minister Cho will help the government and the people of the US better understand the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, and key issues between the ROK and the US, and ask for support and cooperation regarding the ROK’s position.

Thank you.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)

* unofficial translation