Press Briefing
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Cho Tai-young
Mar. 25, 2014 14:30 KST


Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have two announcements to make.

First, the Center for International Law of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA) will hold a symposium themed “International Law and Policy on Fine Dust” at the KNDA on March 27.

The symposium will bring together former and incumbent government officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Environment as well as relevant experts from various sectors, including Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, Director of the Center for International Law Shin Kak-soo, former Minister of Environment Yoo Young-sook, and Senior Adviser at the Center for Climate and Sustainable Development Law and Policy (CSDLAP) Kim Suk-woo.

The symposium will cover the cause of fine dust and damage therefrom and issues concerning relevant international law. It is expected to serve as an opportunity to seek ways for countries in Northeast Asia to work together to address this issue.

Moving on to the second and last announcement, the Brunei government announced its plan to enforce the Sharia criminal law, which is based on religious teachings of Islam, from April 1.

This criminal law applies not only to Muslims but also to non-Muslims in some cases. It applies to everyone, regardless of nationality, who commits a crime in the territory of Brunei.

The government of the Republic of Korea, in a bid to inform the ROK nationals of relevant details, posted them on the Foreign Ministry’s website on safe overseas travel and the website of the ROK Embassy in Brunei.

The government will continue making its utmost efforts to provide such information to the people through various methods. ROK nationals planning to visit Brunei are strongly advised to refer to the information.

This is all for my opening statement.


[Q&A]

Q: In her summit talks with her Chinese counterpart yesterday, President Park Geun-hye mentioned that if there is guarantee of tangible progress toward the denuclearization of North Korea, the ROK would explore various ways to resume dialogue. Could her remarks be construed as indicating that even if North Korea fails to meet the ROK government's precondition for resuming the Six-Party Talks -- which is North Korea taking substantive measures for its denuclearization -- if there is guarantee of substantive progress from the Chinese government or others, the Talks could be resumed?

A: It is the consistent position of the ROK government that it will hold dialogue with North Korea when it can produce tangible progress and based on its steadfast principle that a nuclear North Korea is not acceptable and the North should be denuclearized. In the recent ROK-China summit talks, the ROK side stressed that when the dialogue is resumed, there should be guarantee of genuine action by the North toward denuclearization as well as the suspension of the buildup of its nuclear capabilities.

The ROK government intends to make more efforts, mainly with the US and China, to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue by building upon the results of consultations it has held with other member countries of the Six-Party Talks.

Q: I have a question regarding what you announced on March 22, which is that consultations were under way with the Japanese government on holding a director-general-level meeting on the issue of sexual slavery victims drafted for Japan’s Imperial Armed Forces. Please elaborate on the nature of the meeting. Will it take place under Article 3 of the ROK-Japan Claims Settlement Agreement concluded in 1965?

A: The ROK and Japan are currently in consultation on holding a director-general-level meeting on ways to resolve the issue of sexual slavery victims drafted for Japan’s Imperial Armed Forces.

Q: Going back to the North Korean nuclear issue, the ROK and the US governments have purportedly shared the position that only when North Korea first takes action toward denuclearization, will the Six-Party Talks be resumed. Can President Park’s remarks yesterday be understood as indicating that even if North Korea does not take expected genuine actions but if there is guarantee of tangible progress in words, albeit no action, from the North Korean and/or the Chinese governments, the ROK government will consider resuming the Six-Party Talks?

A: Please refer to what I said a little ago. I will not reiterate it.

Q: You mentioned that North Korea should suspend the buildup of its nuclear capabilities. Please specify what you mean by “buildup of nuclear capabilities.”

A: The words speak for themselves, don’t you think?

Q: Earlier today, North Korea's Deputy Ambassador to the UN Ri Tong-il mentioned that his country would take a series of additional measures to demonstrate the power of its nuclear deterrent. What does the ROK government make of these remarks? What, if any, is the response of the ROK government to them?

A: The ROK government, in close cooperation with the US and other countries concerned, is closely monitoring developments in North Korea. Regardless, North Korea should stop provocative words and actions that escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula and should fulfill its international obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the September 19 Joint Statement.

Q: I have a further question. Do you think that North Korea's Deputy Ambassador to the UN had the possibility of conducting a fourth nuclear test in mind when he referred to “additional measures”?

A: I will not make any assumptions. Regardless, as I said moments ago, North Korea should stop provocative words and actions that escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula and fulfill its international obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the September 19 Joint Statement.

Q: With regard to the Kono Statement, Koichi Hagiuda, special adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Abe in his capacity as head of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, said that it could be revised, which Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga clarified would not happen.

Japanese political leaders have been making contradictory remarks regarding a possible revision of the Kono Statement. What does the ROK government make of the situation?

With respect to this issue, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga also said that his government would issue a new, future-oriented statement in 2015. What is the ROK government’s position on that Japanese plan?

A: The ROK government has already expressed its position on the remarks by special adviser Koichi Hagiuda. Also, the ROK government takes note of the fact that when the Chief Cabinet Secretary made the remarks, he said that he was speaking on behalf of the Japanese government. In terms of the announced plan of the Japanese government to issue a statement to mark the 70th anniversary of the normalization of the ROK-Japan relations, we will refrain from making comments.

Q: With regard to an ROK-US-China meeting among the head delegates to the Six-Party Talks, President Park suggested yesterday that the three head delegates make joint efforts in that regard. China’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs Wu Dawei is said to have recently returned to China following a visit to North Korea. Has the ROK government received from the Chinese side any information on its position or a briefing on the outcome of Special Representative Wu’s visit to North Korea?

A: As I always tell you, the ROK and the Chinese governments maintain close communication with each other.

I will conclude today’s briefing. Thank you.


* unofficial translation