Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

February 19, 2019  14:30  KST 

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

First, Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will hold the 5th Republic of Korea-European Union political dialogue with Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Jean-Christophe Belliard at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 20.

In the meeting, the two sides will review the progress in implementing measures to follow up on the ROK-EU summit in October last year. Drawing upon the results of the review, they will discuss ways to deepen and advance the ROK-EU strategic partnership.

In addition, ahead of the second US-North Korea summit next week, they will exchange views on ways the ROK and the EU can work together to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and to establish a lasting peace on the Peninsula. They will also discuss other key issues, including Brexit and the European Parliament elections this year.

The ROK and the EU are operating about 30 consultative mechanisms. The high-level political dialogue, a key consultative mechanism on political affairs, is expected to serve as an important opportunity for the ROK and the EU to discuss ways to step up cooperation on political, diplomatic and security issues amid the rapidly changing global situation.

Moving on to the next topic, the unveiling ceremony of the signboard of the Preparatory Office for the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit and the Preparatory Committee’s first meeting will take place on February 20. The signboard unveiling ceremony will be attended by the Foreign Minister, the head of the Preparatory Office, and other key officials from the Presidential Security Service, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Presidential Committee on New Southern Policy.

Following the signboard unveiling ceremony, the first meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit will be held. In its first meeting, the Committee, led by the Foreign Minister and composed of vice ministerial- and deputy ministerial-level officials from 21 relevant government agencies, will discuss basic plans for the summit, what preparations are being made, and ways the government agencies can work together.

Thank you.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)

* unofficial translation