1. On the evening of June 10, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, for the first time since taking up the current post, had the entire Diplomatic Corps in the Republic of Korea over at his official residence. He took the opportunity to explain the outcome of the recent summit diplomatic activities by President Park Geun-gye, including the three-country Africa tour and state visit to France, as well as the situation on the Korean Peninsula. He also commended the foreign diplomats for their efforts to promote the relations between their home countries and the ROK.

2. In his welcoming remarks, Minister Yun explained the situation on the Korean Peninsula, where North Korea’s provocations, including its fourth nuclear test in early 2016 and series of ballistic missile launches, have heightened the tensions. He also spoke about the strategic efforts that the ROK government has been making for the denuclearization of North Korea and a peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula.

° Minister Yun stressed that in a bid to induce North Korea to change, the international community should respond sternly, including by thoroughly implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2270. In that vein, he asked the Diplomatic Corps in the ROK to actively support and cooperate on efforts to seek closer international coordination on preventing North Korea from advancing its nuclear capability and from engaging in further provocations.

° With respect to the outcome of the recent summit diplomatic activities by President Park, he extended appreciation to the Ambassadors to the ROK from the countries, which she had recently visited, for their support, and asked for their continued cooperation for a smooth implementation of the follow-up measures.

3. The event served as an opportunity to comprehensively explain the ROK government-led efforts for the denuclearization of North Korea and a peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula shortly ahead of the 100th day since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2270 and Minister Yun’s visits to Russia and Bulgaria. As such, it is expected to help the Diplomatic Corps better understand the relevant matters and step up international coordination.

° Minister Yun also brought attention to the ROK government’s recent diplomatic activities on the regional and global levels. By doing so, he highlighted the ROK government’s commitment to contribute to the international community in addressing global challenges and thereby to lead the global efforts to promote the public good.


* unofficial translation