Deputy Minister Yeo discussed regional and global issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and ways to bolster cooperation for freedom, peace and prosperity in the region.

1. The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) was held online at 11:00-17:30 (KST) on 9 June, following the SOMs of ASEAN+3 and the East Asia Summit on the previous day. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yeo Seung-bae attended the meeting as the head of the Republic of Korea’s delegation and took part in the discussions on regional and global issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

＊ ARF members(a total of 27): 10 ASEAN countries, the ROK, the DPRK, the US, China, Japan, Russia, the EU, India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Pakistan

2. On the Korean Peninsula issue, Deputy Minister Yeo pointed out that the DPRK’s numerous missile test launches in recent days, which include ICBMs, are a clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, and strongly condemned the DPRK for such provocations. Amid growing concerns over another provocation, including a possible 7th nuclear test, he also called on ARF members to send a strong message calling for a complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the DPRK.

＊ The ARF is the only multilateral security forum of which the DPRK is a member. At the SOM, participating countries actively expressed their views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including their concerns over the escalatory activities of the DPRK, such as its recent ballistic missile launches.

ㅇ Deputy Minister Yeo also explained that if the DPRK turns to take substantive steps toward denuclearization, the ROK, with the help of the international community, is ready to offer an audacious plan that will drastically improve its economic situation and the lives of its people. Expressing concerns on the proliferation of COVID-19 in the DPRK, he recalled that the ROK expressed its willingness to provide assistance to the DPRK to help combat the pandemic and said that the ROK hopes to receive a positive response from the DPRK to its offer.

3. On regional and global developments, participating countries including the ROK shared the view that, although the world and this region have started to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainties and instabilities remain high in the region, making it necessary to strengthen cooperation and coordination for achieving regional peace and stability. Along these lines, they discussed some of the major developments, including the situation in the South China Sea, Myanmar, and Ukraine.

ㅇ Deputy Minister Yeo explained the new ROK government’s vision to embrace a greater role in the Indo-Pacific region by actively contributing to the promotion of freedom, peace, and prosperity. In this connection, Deputy Minister Yeo said the ROK supports a rules-based maritime order that safeguards lawful commerce and the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.

ㅇ With regard to Myanmar, Deputy Minister Yeo appreciated the ongoing efforts for humanitarian assistance under the leadership of this year’s ASEAN Chair, Cambodia. Deputy Minister Yeo emphasized the need for additional efforts so as to improve the situation in Myanmar and called for the implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, the release of those detained, and Myanmar’s swift return to democracy.

＊ ASEAN Five-Point Consensus: ① immediate cessation of violence, ② constructive dialogue among all parties concerned, ③ facilitation of the dialogue process by a special envoy of the ASEAN Chair, ④ provision of humanitarian assistance, and ⑤ visit to Myanmar by the special envoy and delegation

ㅇ As for the situation in Ukraine, Deputy Minister Yeo underscored the fundamental importance of the respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence and strongly condemned Russia’s aggression as a violation of the UN Charter and international law. He expressed concern over the negative impact of the prolonged war on the humanitarian situation and global food and energy security.

4. Participants agreed to make continued efforts to enhance regional security through confidence building and preventive diplomacy by strengthening cooperation for ARF activities, including those in the areas of ICTs security, maritime security, disarmament & non-proliferation, counter-terrorism & transnational crime, and disaster relief.

ㅇ Deputy Minister Yeo mentioned that, as a co-chair of the ARF Intersessional Meeting on ICT (2021-2023), the ROK is committed to furthering regional cooperation and strengthening regional capacity building in cyber security and will continue to work closely with ARF members through the ARF.

5. The ROK government will proactively participate in the upcoming Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which is to be held in early August, based on the discussions made at the SOM, so as to contribute to promoting regional confidence building and enhancing security.