Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

December 13, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

First, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will hold a meeting with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Colombia Carlos Holmes Trujillo on December 17.

In their meeting, the two top diplomats will discuss ways to advance the Republic of Korea-Republic of Colombia relations and to step up substantive cooperation in such areas as trade and infrastructure construction after the inauguration of the new Colombian government.

In the meeting, Minister Kang will ask the new Colombian government to continue supporting efforts toward a complete denuclearization and a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Moving along, Minister Kang Kyung-wha, together with External Affairs Minister of the Republic of India Sushma Swaraj, will hold the ninth meeting of the ROK-India foreign ministerial joint committee in New Delhi, India, on December 19.

In the forthcoming meeting of the joint committee, the two Ministers will review the progress in the work to follow up on President Moon Jae-in’s state visit to India in July 2018; and discuss a wide range of matters, including foreign affairs, security, defense industry, economy, science, technology, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Korean Peninsula issues, and regional and global issues.

The joint committee meeting to come in four years since the one held in December 2014 is expected to help to move further forward the relations between the two countries, whose recent series of high-level exchanges has been boosting the aura of friendship and cooperation.

During her visit to India, Minister Kang will also meet with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and other senior officials of the Indian government.

Lastly, Minister Kang will visit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on December 20 on 21 for a meeting with Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.

Minister Kang’s upcoming visit to Malaysia will mark the first by an ROK Foreign Minister in eight years since 2010.

In the meeting, the two top diplomats will exchange in-depth views on ways to promote friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries. After the meeting, Minister Kang will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir bin Mohamad.

During her visit to Malaysia, Minister Kang is expected to win continued cooperation and support from the Malaysian government with regard to the ROK government’s New Southern Policy, paving the way for stronger friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Thank you.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)

* unofficial translation