Park Jin "Working on North Korea Roadmap... Including Denuclearization Incentives"

Internal Affairs Reporter Regular Press Conference
"Expecting Return to Dialogue Table... Also Promoting China-Russia Talks"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] On the 11th, Foreign Minister Park Jin stated that to concretize the North Korea policy concept of the "Bold Plan" announced by President Yoon Suk-yeol in his inaugural address, "we are in the process of creating a roadmap for North Korea policy."

At a regular press conference for domestic reporters that morning, Minister Park said, "The roadmap will include various incentives that can lead North Korea step by step toward denuclearization."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the North Korea policy roadmap, Minister Park explained, "The Bold Plan is a concept that can encompass all of that," adding, "It will include content that can transform the future of North Korea and the Korean Peninsula into peace and prosperity."

He said, "We expect North Korea to stop provocations and return to the table of dialogue and diplomacy," and added, "In that regard, we are currently promoting dialogue with the U.S., China, and Russia."

He continued, "If future South Korea-Japan dialogue is activated, there will be opportunities to deeply discuss flexible and open approaches to North Korea at the trilateral level of South Korea-U.S.-Japan and the bilateral level of South Korea-Japan," and said, "I believe all such content will be included in the roadmap we are currently reviewing."

Minister Park explained, "Since the possibility of North Korea denuclearizing on its own is not high, we need to create an environment that makes North Korea choose denuclearization," adding, "We are pursuing a policy that balances deterrence, sanctions and pressure on North Korea, and dialogue to induce North Korea's judgment."

Furthermore, regarding the diplomatic strategy toward China, Minister Park said, "Equal diplomacy with China is a given," and added, "The most sound South Korea-China relationship will be one where China respects us, and we understand China's position while mutually coexisting and developing."

On the 7th, Minister Park had his first face-to-face meeting with Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, in Bali, Indonesia, on the occasion of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Minister Park emphasized, "China, as a member of the international community, needs to develop South Korea-China relations while valuing universal values and norms."

He confirmed that discussions about China also took place at the South Korea-U.S.-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Bali on the 8th. He explained, "We agreed to jointly make efforts so that China can play a constructive role in resolving the North Korea issue while upholding norms and values."

He also referred to the U.S.-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on the 9th, the day after the South Korea-U.S.-Japan meeting, saying, "I think that is also part of the same effort."

As South Korea and China explore a new relationship setting, it is expected that high-level dialogue between South Korea and China will continue soon through Minister Park's visit to China.

Minister Park said, "Strategic communication and dialogue to properly develop South Korea-China economic and trade relations are most important," and added, "At this South Korea-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting, we agreed to visit each other and discuss the future direction for the development of South Korea-China relations face to face."

He added, "I plan to visit China in the near future to continue these discussions."

Regarding South Korea-Russia relations, which are in the worst state ever due to the Ukraine crisis, Minister Park said, "We will manage relations with Russia stably with a long-term perspective," and added, "Since there are practical economic, trade, and energy cooperation aspects between Russia and South Korea, it is most important to carefully judge so that overseas Koreans and our companies in Russia do not suffer damage first."

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