1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin attended the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the afternoon of July 14. During the Meeting, he recognized the important role of the ARF as a major platform for building mutual trust and confidence in the region through fostering constructive dialogue and consultation for the past 30 years. He also participated in discussions on key regional and global issues including those concerning the Korean Peninsula, Ukraine, the South China Sea and Myanmar.

2. With regard to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Foreign Minister Park brought attention to the fact that exactly 30 years has passed since the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) unilaterally declared its withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). He pointed out that the DPRK’s nuclear and missile development has been undermining the ARF’s efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region over the past three decades. In particular, the Foreign Minister strongly condemned the unprecedentedly frequent provocations by the DPRK, including its launch of a long-range ballistic missile on July 12. 

3. Foreign Minister Park highly appreciated ASEAN for issuing the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ statement only a day after the latest missile launch by the DPRK, stressing that the ARF, the region’s only regional security forum that the DPRK takes part in, should send a clear message that it will never tolerate the DPRK’s possession of nuclear weapons. 

4. Foreign Minister Park recalled that the Korean government had put forward the “Audacious Initiative”; emphasized that the path of dialogue remains open; and strongly urged the DPRK to halt provocations and return to denuclearization talks.

5. Foreign Minister Park also said that it is deplorable that the DPRK continues to waste its scarce resources for unlawful nuclear and missile development in disregard of the hardships of its people. Also voicing deep concern over the human rights and humanitarian situations in the DPRK, the Foreign Minister stressed that the Korean government will seek to step up international cooperation in improving the human rights situation of DPRK people as well as on issues regarding abductions, detainees and unrepatriated prisoners of war. On that note, he urged the DPRK to heed the international community’s concern. 

6. The participating countries commended the ARF for playing a pivotal role over the past 30 years in easing tensions and preventing disputes in the region through promotion of dialogue among countries on key security issues. In addition, they actively exchanged views on not only the situation on the Korean Peninsula but also issues concerning the South China Sea, Ukraine and Myanmar.

7. On the South China Sea, Foreign Minister Park reaffirmed opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force and emphasized that Korea will work closely with the international community to uphold  the rules-based maritime order. A number of the participating countries stated that peace and stability in the South China Sea is essential to the sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the region, reaffirming the need to respect the freedom of navigation and overflight and comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the South China Sea.

8. Concerning the Ukrainian crisis, Foreign Minister Park condemned Russia’s military aggression of Ukraine, calling it a clear violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). He added that the Republic of Korea will continue to take part in the international community’s efforts to provide humanitarian aid and support restoration of peace. A number of the participating countries expressed concerns over the ripple effect of the prolonged war in Ukraine such as the deepening crisis in food and energy security, underscoring the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis.

9. With regard to the Myanmar issue, Foreign Minister Park conveyed deep concern over the continuing violence and civilian casualties in the country, looking forward to the meaningful progress on the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus under the ASEAN Chair’s leadership.

10. Foreign Minister Park stressed that, amid the rapidly changing security landscape in the region, it is important to build a regional order based on openness, transparency and predictability. He shared Korea’s plan to host the 16th ARF Experts and Eminent Persons (EEPs) Meeting next year, hoping this meeting will be an opportunity to pool expertise and wisdom on ways to further strengthen the ARF’s role and relevance.