Kang Kyung-hwa at ARF Emphasizes "Inter-Korean Cooperation as Foundation for Korean Peninsula Peace... Urges Swift Resumption of Dialogue"… North Korea's Ju In-ni Ambassador Attends

"Expecting a Unified Message from ARF Level Urging Peaceful Resolution through Prompt Resumption of Dialogue"
Reiterating the Importance of Maintaining Peace and Stability in the South China Sea... Participating Countries Adopt 'Hanoi Action Plan II'
US Deputy Secretary Biegun and Chinese Deputy Director Luo Zhaohui Attend

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 12th, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha attended the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers' Meeting held via video conference, exchanging views on security issues including the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the South China Sea issue, health security, and cybersecurity.

The meeting was attended by 27 countries including South Korea, the 10 ASEAN member states, the United States, China, and Japan. The United States was represented by Steven Biegun, Deputy Secretary of State; China by Luo Zhaohui, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; and North Korea was represented by Ambassador An Kwang-il, North Korea's ambassador to Indonesia, as a proxy.

Minister Kang evaluated the role of the ARF in a situation where inter-state cooperation is crucial to effectively respond to new international health security threats caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). She emphasized strengthening regional cooperation and global solidarity. The participating foreign ministers agreed on the necessity of enhancing health cooperation at the multilateral level for COVID-19 response and recovery, highlighting the importance of information sharing, sharing best practices, and the fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

The participating countries also assessed the ARF as a useful mechanism for discussing COVID-19, a new challenge and security issue, and adopted a "Statement on Cooperation in Infectious Disease Response." This statement includes provisions on information sharing for effective joint response to infectious diseases, ensuring equitable and fair access to vaccines, maintaining market openness and supply chain connectivity, and guaranteeing the movement of essential personnel.

Minister Kang particularly explained the progress of the Korean Peninsula peace process, emphasizing that the government will continue diplomatic efforts for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace based on the historic agreements among the leaders of South Korea, North Korea, and the United States.

Minister Kang said, "Long-standing distrust on the Korean Peninsula is difficult to resolve in a short period, but only through continuous dialogue and cooperation can the Korean Peninsula issue be resolved." She added, "I hope that a united message urging the prompt resumption of dialogue for peaceful resolution will be sent at the ARF level."

She also stressed that cooperation between the South and the North, the parties to the Korean Peninsula issue, is the cornerstone of peace on the Peninsula. She explained the South Korean government's efforts to advance inter-Korean relations by proposing cooperation projects in the fields of quarantine, healthcare, forestry, and agricultural technology under the new security situation caused by COVID-19. The participating ministers agreed that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are closely linked to regional peace and prosperity, and mentioned the need for the prompt resumption of dialogue, implementation of agreements among the leaders of South Korea, North Korea, and the United States, and compliance with UN Security Council resolutions for denuclearization and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Discussions were also held on the increasingly tense South China Sea issue. Minister Kang expressed South Korea's consistent position supporting freedom of navigation and overflight, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling commitments to demilitarization. She stated, "Maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea is very important amid the difficulties faced by countries due to COVID-19."

Regarding the Rakhine issue in Myanmar, she expressed hope for creating an environment for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of refugees residing in Bangladesh, and reported that the government is promoting humanitarian assistance worth $5.5 million this year for refugees who have been suffering due to the recent spread of COVID-19.

She also emphasized the need not to lower vigilance against non-traditional security issues. With the increase in online activities alongside the spread of COVID-19 and the growing importance of ICT and cybersecurity, she expressed her intention to co-chair the 2021 ARF ICT Security Meeting to contribute to strengthening ICT and cybersecurity cooperation within the ARF.

Meanwhile, Minister Kang Kyung-wha emphasized South Korea's commitment to contributing to peacekeeping operations for building peace and security in the region and requested participation and support from ARF member countries for the "UN Peacekeeping Foreign Ministers' Meeting" to be held in Seoul in April next year.

The participating countries adopted the "Hanoi Action Plan II," which sets the future development direction of the ARF for the next five years, and expressed hope that cooperation through the ARF, including confidence-building and preventive diplomacy activities, will continue to play a key role in regional peace and prosperity.

A Foreign Ministry official evaluated, "The Foreign Ministers' Meeting served as an opportunity to consolidate the international community's will to strengthen international security cooperation, recognizing the importance of the ARF's role in responding to traditional and non-traditional security threats amid the current situation of increased uncertainty and regional instability caused by COVID-19."

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