1. On June 25, the Foreign Ministry, the International Federation of the Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the Korean Red Cross will conclude a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed to increase cooperation in humanitarian assistance operations, such as relief activities in areas struck by large-scale disasters.

° Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sung-han will sign the MOU along with the Secretaries-General of the IFRC and the Korean Red Cross, Bekele Geleta and Ko Kyung-suk, at the Foreign Ministry on June 25.

2. The IFRC and the Korean Red Cross have outstanding knowhow on ways to reduce disaster risks, respond to disasters, recover and reconstruct disaster-affected countries, as well as a network in 187 countries that facilitates close cooperation with the governments and people of those countries. Through the cooperation with the two organizations, the Ministry is expected to improve the effectiveness of the ROK’s humanitarian assistance and other aid projects for other countries in the field of disaster management.

3. Under the MOU, the ROK government will seek out joint cooperation projects in reducing disaster risks, responding to disasters and other ways to manage disasters. Furthermore, it will share information, bolster technical cooperation and hold consultations with the other two organizations in pursuit of an increased cooperation in the field of humanitarian assistance. 


                             Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation