Press Briefing
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Cho Tai-young
Dec. 17, 2013 14:30 KST


Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Today, I have five announcements to make.

First, the Republic of Korea and France will hold a working-level consultation on ways to support bids of entrepreneurs and youth interns of the two countries to expand their presence in each other's countries.

The two countries agreed to conclude an agreement to support the aforementioned bids during the bilateral summit held on November 4.

To this end, a working-level meeting will take place in Paris, France, on December 19 to discuss it.

The ROK and the French delegations to the meeting will be led by Ahn Young-jip, Director-General for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, and Francois Lucas, Director for Immigration of the Interior Ministry, respectively.

In the meeting, the ROK and the French governments will seek ways to streamline the visa processing for business people and youth from the two countries, who are dispatched to their branch offices or work as interns in each other's countries, and thereby further boost economic and people-to-people exchanges between the two.

Moving on to the second announcement, the resolution granting the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) an observer status in the UN General Assembly was adopted at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York on December 16, local time.

As you may know, the GGGI became an international organization in 2012. In June 2013, it was recognized as an official development assistance (ODA)-eligible body by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), making the GGGI’s budget counted as ODA.

The UN General Assembly, after deliberations, grants an observer status to its non-states and intergovernmental organizations. Put differently, only those organizations that pass deliberations are granted an observer status.

Intergovernmental organizations such as the GGGI that have won an observer status can attend and deliver remarks at UN General Assembly meetings.

Currently, the number of the non-states and intergovernmental organizations holding an observer status in the UN General Assembly stands at 80.

The observer status in the UN General Assembly will allow the GGGI to build cooperative networks with relevant organs in the UN system, take part in discussions on sustainable development and green growth, and thereby play a role in UN activities.

Thirdly, the 16th meeting of the ROK-Japan Joint Committee on Environmental Cooperation will take place in Seoul on December 18 and 19.

The ROK and the Japanese delegations will be led by Seong Moon-up, Deputy Director-General for Global Economic Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, and Hiroshi Minami, Deputy Director-General for Global Issues of the Foreign Ministry, respectively, and include officials from other relevant government agencies of the two countries.

In their upcoming Joint Committee meeting, the two countries will review the progress in the ongoing cooperation projects in the field and discuss ways to further advance them.

They will also explore ways to work more closely together in regional mechanisms for environmental cooperation as well as in addressing climate change and other global environmental issues. In addition, they have extensive discussions on matters of mutual concern, including marine and air pollution, and the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Fourthly, the Foreign Ministry will host a "ROK-Central Asia Night" event on December 18.

The ROK government, in a bid to expand cooperation with Eurasia and pursue diplomacy with Central Asia toward shared prosperity and cooperation, has held a variety of exchange and cooperation projects with the region.

The "ROK-Central Asia Night" event is expected to serve as an opportunity to discuss the outcomes from such exchange and cooperation projects and for an exchange among people interested in Central Asia.

The event will bring together the Ambassadors to the ROK from Kyrgyz, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, a delegation from the Turkmenistan mission in the ROK, which opened in November, and other diplomats in the ROK.

Some 150 people from the private sector, such as business people and academics, will also join the event.

The event is expected to serve as an opportunity to reinforce the networking between the peoples of the ROK and Central Asia and support bids of Korean companies and civilian groups to expand their presence in Central Asia.

Lastly, the Foreign Ministry, in an effort to support bids of Korean construction companies to enter the Latin American market, will host a symposium on ways to expand presence in the infrastructure and plant market in Latin America at Lotte Hotel, downtown Seoul, on December 19.

The event will feature presentations by delegates from the International Contractors Association of Korea, which supports overall overseas operations of relevant Korean companies, and the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, one of the ROK’s major public credit agencies.

The symposium has been held by the Foreign Ministry’s Center for Resource and Infrastructure Cooperation with Latin America on an annual basis since 2010 to help relevant Korean companies enter the market in the region.

This is all for my opening statement.


[Q&A]

Q: A meeting of Ministers handling foreign and security affairs took place yesterday, where establishing a permanent secretariat for the National Security Council (NSC) was discussed. What follow-up measures is the Foreign Ministry taking in this regard? Also, what measures, if any, is the Foreign Ministry taking in response to the recent developments in North Korea?

A: With regard to creating a permanent NSC secretariat, I deem that it should be led by some other government agency than the Foreign Ministry. I will just tell you this rather than measures the Foreign Ministry is taking in that regard.

In terms of your second question, the relevant divisions of the Foreign Ministry, led by its Minister, consulted closely with each other and monitored the developments of the situation in North Korea over the weekend and continue to do so. The Foreign Ministry is also consulting closely with key countries in the region, including the US, China, Japan and Russia, to share their judgments and assessments on the situation. We are also keeping track of moves by these countries.

The Foreign Ministry, as the government agency that oversees foreign relations, will continue conducting close analyses and consulting with relevant countries. As I told you a little ago, inside the Foreign Ministry, led by the Minister, the Office of Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs and other related divisions will work together in a very organic manner in dealing with the situation.

Q: Japan, announcing its national security strategy today, indicated that Dokdo is a sovereignty-disputed area. Please share with us the ROK government’s position, if any, on that. Has the Foreign Ministry summoned a diplomat at the Japanese embassy in the ROK to protest?

A: Let me first say this: The ROK government deems it deeply regrettable that the Japanese government continues to lay claims to Dokdo despite repeated protests and expression of position by the ROK government.

As I, as Spokesperson of the ROK Foreign Ministry, have reiterated here time and again, the Japanese government should stop right this minute laying those unjust claims.

I have also pointed out right here that the Japanese government should turn a wide-open eye to the historical truth. It is hard to understand how it can say that it wants friendly ties with the ROK while making such ahistorical moves.

The ROK government’s response to the Japanese government’s move will be announced after this press briefing. Let me stress this once and for all: The ROK government will in no way tolerate any unjust remarks and claims as well as ahistorical moves by the Japanese government with regard to Dokdo, clearly an integral part of the ROK territory. The ROK government once again and strongly demands that the Japanese government immediately withdraw these claims.

Q: I have a related question. The newly announced national security strategy of Japan largely calls for beefing up its defense capabilities with China in mind and seeking active pacifism. I would like your comments on Japan’s National Defense Program Guideline that calls for strengthening the country’s overall defense capability as well as the announced national security strategy.

A: With regard to the defense and security-related moves by the Japanese government, the ROK government has expressed its position time and again. Such moves should not undermine the regional stability. It is also the ROK government’s position that such moves should be made in a way that is transparent and respects the ideas behind its pacifist constitution and the principle of exclusively defensive defense.

Q: I have a question regarding what you said on North Korea. How likely does the Foreign Ministry think it is for North Korea to engage in provocations, especially its fourth nuclear test?

A: Concerning the possibility of North Korean provocations, I think it would be appropriate for a ministry in charge of the issue, not the Foreign Ministry, to answer the question. On the likelihood of North Korea’s fourth nuclear test, the Foreign Ministry’s view is that North Korea is technically prepared to conduct the test anytime. The ROK government is keeping a close eye on related developments.

Q: I understand that the ROK-US negotiations on defense cost-sharing are nearing an end. Please tell us specifically what is being discussed and what key talking points are, if you could.

A: The ROK government is holding the negotiations, taking into account various opinions at home. The ROK and the US have held the negotiations numerous times and as far as I know, some progress has been made. However, the two sides have not reached a full agreement yet.

The ROK government is doing its best, thinking that it is desirable to conclude a successor agreement before the existing agreement expires. The government will continue to make utmost efforts to conclude a successor agreement as soon as possible.

Q: There have been reports that Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Lee Kyung-soo will meet with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki and discuss the chairmanship of the ROK-China-Japan Summit. I’d like to know if there is anything discussed in advance regarding this.

A: Deputy Minister Lee Kyung-soo is the ROK’s head delegate for the ROK-Japan-China trilateral cooperation. As a head delegate for trilateral cooperation, Deputy Minister Lee is currently in Japan to discuss trilateral cooperation. To my understanding, during his visit to Japan, he will meet with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Saiki. I don’t understand what you exactly mean by “anything discussed in advance.”

Q: I’d like to know if any progress has been made in discussing who will serve as chair. It is Japan’s turn to take the chair for the next Summit. Please tell us if Japan has expressed any position on that.

A: Instead of giving you specifics, I will just say that the issue of who will serve as chair next year is being discussed.

Q: Regarding Deputy Minister Lee’s visit to Tokyo, can you say for certain that the ROK-China-Japan Summit will take place within this year? On who will be the chair next year, what is the ROK’s position? For example, does it intend to serve as the chair until the next Summit?

It was also reported a few days ago that Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Saiki will visit Seoul and hold the ROK-Japan strategic dialogue around December 25. Please tell us how much progress has been made in discussions on that.

A: On whether the ROK-Japan-China Summit will be held within this year, as you know, I do not predict the future. I cannot give you a definite answer.

Second, you asked about the ROK’s position on next year’s chair. As I already said a moment ago, the issue is being discussed. I think it is appropriate for me to give you an answer after things are sorted out. As I have always said in my briefings, there are many cases where it is difficult for me to give you every detail throughout the entire procedure. It can unintentionally create confusion, so the government has tried to provide all related information at once after things are finalized. The Ministry will deal with the Summit issue in this way as well. We ask for your understanding.

On the Japanese Vice Foreign Minister’s visit to the ROK and his strategic dialogue with the ROK’s First Vice Foreign Minister, the date and agenda have not been decided yet. As such, I will give you the details after decisions are made.

Q: To my understanding, the First Vice Foreign Minister is visiting the US for the ROK-US Vice Ministerial Dialogue. Please tell us the schedule and major agenda for the Dialogue.

A: First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun will hold the ROK-US Vice Ministerial Strategic Dialogue with the US Deputy Secretary of State on December 17, Washington time. To my knowledge, during his visit to the US, Vice Minister Kim will also meet with officials dealing with the ROK-US relations, including those from the US Department of State and the White House.

On the outcome of his visit to the US, which you’d like to know, I think some explanations will be provided in the US on an appropriate occasion.

Before finishing this briefing, let me emphasize this once again regarding Japan’s description of Dokdo, an integral part of the ROK territory, in its national security strategy. The ROK government demands that the Japanese government and politicians immediately stop making such unjust claims. That is the path toward the friendship between the ROK and Japan. I’d like to reiterate this.

I will conclude today’s briefing. Thank you.

*unofficial translation