Press Briefing
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Cho Tai-young
Nov. 1, 2012 14:30 KST


Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have two announcements to make.

I will first discuss the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Japan in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday, October 31.

At the meeting, the ROK Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, on behalf of the government of the Republic of Korea, raised the issue of sexual slavery victims drafted for the Japanese army during World War II through his remarks. Previously, the ROK government had brought attention to this issue at the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly.

The UPR is a mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council to regularly examine and offer recommendations regarding the human rights situations of all the UN member states.

The ROK government took the opportunity to call on the Japanese government to acknowledge its legal responsibility over the issue of military sexual slavery victims and seek solutions to the issue that are acceptable to the victims.

During the latest Review on Japan, in particular, the delegates from seven countries -- the ROK, North Korea, China, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Belarus and Timor-Leste -- commented on this issue.

This marks an increase in the number of such countries from four at the first UPR on Japan in 2008, which demonstrates a keener attention of the international community to this issue.

Moving on to the second and last announcement, later today, November 1, the ROK Embassy in Japan will host the 4th ROK-Japan Green Partnership Roundtable, which it has held on an annual basis since 2009 to implement the “ROK-Japan Green Partnership” agreed upon by the leaders of the two countries earlier in the year.

In the upcoming Roundtable themed “The Future of the Electricity Markets of the ROK and Japan and Ways to Connect their Electricity Networks,” delegates from the government, business and academic sectors of the two countries will make presentations and engage in discussions on the future of the two countries’ electricity industry and the possibility of connecting their electricity networks.

This is all for my opening statement.


[Q&A]

Q: Please tell us what the delegates from such countries as Costa Rica, Belarus and Timor-Lest said with regard to the issue of military sexual slavery victims.

A: I don’t recall details of their remarks. I will check and let you know later.

Q: Apple’s decision to show both Korean and Japanese names for Dokdo yesterday raised controversy. The way I see it, Apple’s decision on the labeling of Dokdo is triggered by profit calculations. When this labeling is imprinted on consumers’ minds, though, then we have a problem on our hands. I would like to know what specific measures, if any, our government is mulling over taking in response.

A: For starters, we deem this decision by Apple deeply regrettable. The moment we were provided with an explanation by Apple on this policy, a ROK government official made it clear to the company that it is unacceptable.

The headquarters of both Google and Apple are in the Bay Area, US, which our Consulate General in San Francisco covers. The ROK government will have its Consulate General in the city lodge its complaints in writing and will take other measures as well in order to strongly demand a change in the aforementioned policy. We will continue doing so.

Q: If they fail to accept our demand, can the government impose sanctions on or create unfavorable business conditions for these private companies?

A: As far I know, the government can, in no way, take such measures. That is actually why it is hard for us to deal with this situation.

But there are principles for the government to stick to. In this regard, we cannot accept the aforementioned policies of Google and Apple. So, we will continue to consult with them to have our stance reflected.

I will conclude today’s briefing. Thank you.


* unofficial translation