Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Soosuk Lim

October 20, 2022  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin will attend the 15th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum to be held in Busan on October 25 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Central Asia this year.

The upcoming Forum will bring together around 300 people from various fields, including the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries as well as officials from the Busan Metropolitan Government, entrepreneurs, and academics, who will discuss ways to work together in public health, the digital sector, tourism, environment, and economic security.

Foreign Minister Park will also hold separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the Central Asian countries, and discuss issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relations, substantive cooperation, regional affairs, and cooperation on the international stage.

The Forum is expected to serve as a useful opportunity to promote mutually-beneficial cooperative relations for the next 30 years of the Korea-Central Asia relations.

Next, Foreign Minister Park will hold the 5th Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Busan on October 26.

The upcoming Meeting to be attended by the foreign ministers of the fourteen Pacific Island Countries will be held under the “Vision for the Resilient Blue Pacific.” In the Meeting, the participants will discuss ways to strengthen substantive cooperation in development cooperation, climate change, and maritime affairs and fisheries.

At a session on global issues, Foreign Minister Park will ask the Pacific Island Countries to support Korea’s bid to host the World Expo in Busan.

The forthcoming Meeting is expected to serve as an opportunity for Korea to strengthen its role as a global pivotal state and further deepen the network for cooperation with the Pacific Island Countries.

Next, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyundong will visit Japan from October 25 to 27 to attend the 11th Republic of Korea-U.S.-Japan Trilateral Vice Foreign Ministerial Meeting, which will be held on October 26, in Tokyo, Japan. 

Vice Minister Cho, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori will discuss ways to strengthen close cooperation among the three countries to address the DPRK issue as well as regional and global affairs.

During the visit, Vice Minister Cho will also hold bilateral meetings with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and the Japanese Vice Foreign Minister.

Lastly, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyundong will meet with Undersecretary for Diplomatic Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of Oman Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy on October 21.

In the meeting, Vice Minister Cho will discuss the way forward for the Korea-Oman relations ahead of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2024, as well as the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East and cooperation on the international arena.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)