1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se delivered an opening address at the 2014 meeting of heads of overseas diplomatic missions of the Republic of Korea. In his address, Minister Yun noted that the ROK had made significant diplomatic achievements, including: pursuing trustpolitik through 31 summit meetings; calling on the international community to speak against Japan’s historical revisionism; holding strategic dialogues on North Korea and its nuclear program; launching a meeting of middle-power countries’ foreign ministers, such as MIKTA; successfully coordinating a stance on the Air Defense Identification Zone with those of neighboring countries; enhancing crisis management capabilities, including by rescuing a Korean trade agency official kidnapped in Libya; and improving the cooperative system with countries concerned for North Korean refugees.

2. Minister Yun stressed that as the Park Geun-hye government in its second year is still facing difficult diplomatic environment, many challenges are arising simultaneously on the Korean Peninsula, in Northeast Asia and around the world with uncertainty growing.

o Minister Yun said that North Korea’s nuclear program is the biggest existing threat to the international community and whether or not North Korea will conduct a further nuclear test will greatly affect its future. In this regard, the Minister urged the North Korean leadership to choose between the paths to isolation from the international community or cooperation with it. The Minister also warned that should North Korea conduct a nuclear test, it will have to pay a grave price.

o Minister Yun also stated the execution of Jang Seong-taek reminded us that North Korea’s internal situation is directly linked to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and that building a new Korean Peninsula is an urgent task. The Minister added that the Japanese political leaders’ historical revisionism is drawing condemnation from the international community and the latest situation in Ukraine is causing chaos in international order.

3. Minister Yun emphasized that in order to turn such chaos and uncertainty into an opportunity, the ROK’s diplomacy needs to play a key role. As such, the Minister explained, the 2014 meeting of heads of overseas diplomatic missions will focus on key policy priorities of “diplomacy for peaceful reunification,” “diplomacy for creative economy,” and “diplomacy for the happiness of the people, which includes services for overseas Koreans.”

o First, on trustpolitik for peaceful reunification, which is one of the most important foreign policy priorities of the Park Geun-hye government over the next four years, Minister Yun asked the mission heads to work toward a unified Korea with passion for reunification and historical awareness in line with President Park’s vision for “unification bonanza” and “Dresden Initiative,” an initiative for peaceful unification on the Korean Peninsula announced at the Dresden University of Technology of Germany on March 28, 2014.

o Second, on economic revival, the Minister stated that in order to implement the government’s three-year economic plan and realize its “474 vision,” the mission chiefs need to put a lot of effort into economic diplomacy, including supporting Korean companies’ activities overseas, improving the external economic environment, advancing national interests in the world economic order, and finding exemplary cases of advanced countries.

o Third, on the happiness of the people, Minister Yun urged the mission heads to make efforts for the safety of overseas Koreans and the protection of their rights, including preventing and swiftly responding to situations that could put Koreans in danger, strengthening capacities necessary for each area, and supporting Koreans’ business activities overseas.

4. Minister Yun hoped that the mission heads will produce a concrete action plan that could win public support through in-depth discussions, exchanges with people on the ground, and communications with various stakeholders. The Minister once again called on the mission heads to renew their determination and commitment to help the ROK take another leap forward and build a unified Korea.


                  Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

*unofficial translation