Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Kim In-chul

July 23, 2019  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

First, on the morning of Wednesday, July 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold the retirement ceremony for those who retired in the first half of the year 2019. At the ceremony, Minister Kang Kyung-wha will present awards and commendations to the 28 retirees, extending appreciation to them for their dedication to diplomacy and to the promotion of national interests.

Moving along, on the afternoon of the same day, Minister Kang will meet with Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (National Security Advisor) of the United States (U.S.) John R. Bolton.

During the meeting, the two sides will extensively discuss ways to further strengthen the Republic of Korea (ROK)-United States alliance, ways to establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula through its complete denuclearization, the situation in the region, and other matters of mutual interest.

Advisor Bolton’s visit to the ROK, along with a series of high-level visits following the ROK-U.S. summit on June 30, is expected to serve as a good opportunity for communication and policy cooperation between the two countries.

Lastly, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho will attend as the ROK’s head delegate the 2nd official meeting on the delimitation of maritime boundaries between the ROK and the People’s Republic of China, which will take place in Beijing, China, on Thursday, July 25.

The Chinese delegation to the meeting will be headed by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Luo Zhaohui. The ROK’s delegation to the meeting will be composed of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, among others.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)

* unofficial translation