Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Pursuing Comprehensive Consultations with the US to Revive South-North-US Dialogue"

"President Xi Jinping's Visit to Korea, Continuous Consultations with China for Early Realization"
"Ongoing Consultations with Japan, Careful Review of Reactivating GSOMIA 'Termination Notice Effect'"

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is speaking at the 3rd Diplomatic Strategy Coordination Meeting held on the afternoon of the 28th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul to evaluate and share the situation of the US-China conflict and discuss response measures. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it will strengthen diplomatic efforts to resume the stalled North Korea-U.S. denuclearization negotiations.

On the 25th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained in a work report submitted to the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee that regarding the plan to promote the Korean Peninsula peace process, "We will actively strengthen diplomatic efforts to reignite the momentum of South Korea-North Korea-U.S. dialogue," and that it will continue to pursue comprehensive consultations with the U.S. covering denuclearization, inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. relations, and peace regime.

It added that efforts to build a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula will continue alongside progress in denuclearization. The Ministry stated, "We will continue diplomatic efforts to implement the agreements among the South Korean, North Korean, and U.S. leaders on establishing a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula," and "Considering the situation of inter-Korean relations, we plan to continue promoting cooperation with the international community necessary to realize the government's peace initiatives, such as the internationalization of the DMZ as a peace zone."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also plans to work on policy consultations with the U.S., strengthening practical cooperation and global partnerships, and concluding a Special Measures Agreement (SMA) on defense cost-sharing at a reasonable and fair level. In particular, it will monitor developments related to the U.S. presidential election on the 11th, while continuing efforts to build networks through outreach to both the Democratic and Republican parties and to enhance understanding of diplomatic and security policies.

Lee Do-hoon, Director General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, and Stephen Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea Policy, are leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul on the morning of the 8th after concluding their talks and moving to the press conference venue. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Regarding South Korea-China relations, the Ministry announced that it will promote the recovery and expansion of exchanges and cooperation through continued communication at high levels on various issues, including cooperation in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The Ministry emphasized, "We will continue consultations with China to ensure that President Xi Jinping's visit to South Korea takes place early once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes and conditions are met," and will promote the expansion and deepening of economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, encourage China's constructive role in Korean Peninsula issues, and spread friendly sentiments between the two countries through public diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges.

Furthermore, with Japan, the Ministry plans to actively urge the withdrawal of export restrictions based on a consensus for problem-solving through dialogue and continue consultations to find solutions to the forced labor issue. It will also carefully consider whether to reactivate the effectiveness of the notification of termination of the Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) suspended on November 22 last year for dialogue with Japan. The Ministry added that with Russia, it will continue non-face-to-face exchanges amid the COVID-19 situation and promote high-level exchanges once the situation calms down, resuming postponed exchanges such as major events on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

To respond to the deepening U.S.-China conflict, the Ministry plans to seek mid- to long-term diplomatic strategies and strengthen public-private cooperation for organic responses to current issues. Currently, the Ministry operates the Diplomatic Strategy Coordination Meeting and its subcommittee meetings continuously, while activating a communication system among government, academia, and industry centered on a public-private working task force (TF).

It will also seek joint responses amid the U.S.-China competitive structure through solidarity with middle powers. The Ministry plans to hold high-level and 1.5-track meetings with countries in similar situations caught between U.S.-China strategic competition, such as Australia and Indonesia, as well as like-minded countries supporting the rules-based order, including France and Germany.

Meanwhile, as of the 19th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has supported the return of 47,059 overseas nationals stranded in 119 countries due to the COVID-19 situation. It has also provided medical services to 557 confirmed overseas nationals in 58 countries and assisted 18,166 businesspeople in 18 countries to enter for business purposes and other reasons.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.