Cho Tae-yong: "Korea-China, a Relationship of Mutual Respect and Shared Interests... No Actions Should Go Backwards"

Cho Tae-yong, Director of National Security Office, Attends ROK-US-Japan Security Chiefs Meeting
Conveys Intent for ROK-China-Japan Summit, Discusses Diplomatic Channels
ROK-US Bilateral Meeting on 'NCG Discussion' Held During Meeting

Cho Tae-yong, Director of the National Security Office, on the 14th addressed the controversy surrounding the remarks made by Xing Haiming, the Chinese Ambassador to Korea, stating, "There should be no actions that do not help the healthy development of Korea-China relations and that go backward."

Cho said during a meeting with reporters at Gimpo International Airport, "Regarding Korea-China relations, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's unwavering position is to develop Korea-China relations centered on two key keywords: mutual respect and common interests, and to develop them healthily." Cho is departing for Japan on the same day to attend the Korea-US-Japan National Security Directors meeting.

When asked about a senior official from the Presidential Office's statement the previous day that "China is considering this issue and we are waiting for them to take appropriate measures," Cho replied, "I have nothing more to say, please accept my words as a substitute."

Regarding the progress of the Korea-China-Japan summit, he explained, "It is Korea's turn to serve as the chair country. Therefore, we have conveyed the intention to China and Japan to hold the Korea-China-Japan summit and are consulting through diplomatic channels. The Republic of Korea holds a balanced and composed stance, hoping for healthy development of Korea-China relations and well-developed consultative bodies among Korea, China, and Japan."

When asked if the controversy over Ambassador Xing's remarks would affect the holding of the Korea-China-Japan summit, he emphasized, "As someone responsible for comprehensively coordinating our country's diplomacy and security, talking about this and that regarding the Chinese Ambassador to Korea does not suit our country's dignity and national stature."

He added, "The Korea-China-Japan summit was created because it is necessary at the head-of-state level among Korea, China, and Japan. From that perspective, since it serves common interests, we expect that China and Japan will respond positively to our request as the chair country and that the summit will be held within this year."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korea-US-Japan National Security Directors meeting will be held again after about nine months since it was last held in September of last year. Cho explained, "North Korea's failed reconnaissance satellite launch is a case in point, but provocations by North Korea are expected to continue, and the international situation is moving very complexly. I believe this is a time when trilateral consultations and close cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan are more important than ever."

He continued, "In that regard, we will hold in-depth consultations among the three countries on security, North Korea, economic security, advanced technology, and all other areas with the goal of firmly securing our national interests, including Korea-US consultations and Korea-Japan consultations."

At the Korea-US bilateral talks held on the occasion of this Korea-US-Japan National Security Directors meeting, the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) will be discussed. When asked about the possibility of Japan participating in the NCG, Cho said, "Our government is open to policy-level consultations on extended deterrence among Korea, the US, and Japan. However, this is very different from the NCG agreed upon between Korea and the US. The NCG is a concrete operational-level consultation between Korea and the US aimed at strong retaliation in response to North Korea's nuclear provocations."

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