1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lim Sung-nam met with former lawmaker Vitaliy Nikitich Ignatenko and six journalists of Russia at the Foreign Ministry on July 6. In the meeting,a the two sides extensively exchanged views on ways to advance the Republic of Korea-Russia relations and to promote the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

※ The Russian delegation is on a visit to the ROK from July 6 till 8 for the ROK-Russia journalists seminar on “the role and mission of journalists in building inter-national relations,” hosted by the “Korea-Russia Dialogue” mechanism in Seoul on July 7.

※ The “Korea-Russia Dialogue” mechanism is the largest consultative channel between the private sectors of the two countries launched in 2010 as agreed by their leaders. Its six subcommittees on political affairs, economy, education, media, culture and youth conduct various projects throughout the year, spearheading comprehensive exchanges and cooperation between the two countries as well as bolstering the foundation for advances in the bilateral relations.

- In particular, at its forums attended by the Presidents of the two countries, the Dialogue makes recommendations on ways to move the bilateral ties forward.

2. Vice Minister Lim, citing the telephone conversation between the Presidents of the two countries on May 12, the visit by a special envoy of the ROK President to Russia from May 22 till 25, and the first round of bilateral summit talks on the sidelines of the forthcoming G20 summit, pointed out that the ROK and Russia had seen more active high-level exchanges than ever before over the past two months since the launch of the new government in the ROK. He added with appreciation that such moves are creating a momentum for further substantive progress in the bilateral ties.

° Vice Minister Lim explained that in a bid to advance its relations with Russia, the ROK government is attaching particular significance to cooperation with Russia in opening Arctic routes and creating other engines for future growth; to economic cooperation in Russia’s Far East region; and to close, strategic communication on nuclear and other issues of North Korea.

° The Vice Minister voiced hope that the ROK and Russia will work closely together in mapping out strategies for dealing with North Korea, the ROK and Russia’s shared threat and biggest obstacle to their efforts to promote bilateral cooperation.

3. In addition, Vice Minister Lim, stressing that a round of Winter Olympic Games, a symbol of world peace and the unity of humanity, will take place in Pyeongchang, Korea, the only divided nation in the entire world, asked Russian media to take a keen interest in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and play a role in promoting the event widely in Russia and thereby making a success of it.

° Former lawmaker Ignatenko expressed his confidence that the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be a success and thereby contribute to peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. He went on to say that it is important to promote not only the event for its success but also the bright, positive and happy image of the ROK, adding that active cooperation will be rendered to that end.

° In addition, former lawmaker Ignatenko stressed in view of his experience of working on the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee that it important to muster support from the ROK people on the PyeongChang Winter Olympics; maintain good inter-Korean relations during the event; keep social stability risks at bay; and maintain the ROK’s image as a country that safeguards freedom, democracy and equality.

° Furthermore, former lawmaker Ignatenko, expressing regret over continued nuclear tests by North Korea distracting the media from focusing on the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, voiced hope that the ROK, in cooperation with the world over the next seven months until the event, will seek to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

4. The meeting between Vice Minister Lim and former lawmaker Ignatenko came as part of the efforts to implement the ROK government’s policy to strengthen public diplomacy toward Russia. It is seen to have served as a good opportunity to help leading media outlets of Russia better understand the new ROK government’s policy to take its ties with Russia a notch higher and to promote the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.


* unofficial translation