Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Choi Youngsam

February 2, 2021  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

First, let me read the statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the situation in Myanmar.

The Korean government expresses deep concern over the recent political situation in Myanmar. The Korean government reaffirms its utmost respect for the Myanmar people’s aspiration for democracy that was demonstrated in the general election held last November.

The Korean government also calls for an immediate release of those detained including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and hopes that the issue will be resolved in a peaceful manner, in adherence with a lawful and democratic process.

The Korean government, together with the international community, will continue to pay close attention to the developments in Myanmar.

Next, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha will chair the 18^th MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, February 3.

At the upcoming virtual meeting, Korea, which has served as the MIKTA chair since February last year, will end its chairmanship and it will be handed over to Australia.

At the meeting, the MIKTA member states will take stock of MIKTA’s achievements over the last year, and exchange views on priorities of this year’s activities.

Last year, Korea, as the chair, further enhanced MIKTA’s standing through President Moon Jae-in’s statement on behalf of MIKTA at the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the United Nations, which was the first-ever MIKTA statement made at the head of state level at the UN. Korea also expanded the areas of cooperation, including by launching new dialogue channels on public health amid the COVID-19 pandemic, development cooperation, women and families, and academia.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)