mofa eNewsMaker

Foreign Minister Speaks about the Evolving Situation in the Region
and the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative

1. On May 29, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se hosted a dinner for some 300 personages attending the Eighth Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity 2013. In his remarks at the dinner, he presented an assessment of the changes in the situation in Asia; explained the ROK government’s trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula and the Northeast Asia peace and cooperation initiative as well as its position on the North Korean nuclear issue; and underscored the need for trust and cooperation in Asia.
( Full text of his remarks attached )

2. The Jeju Forum is underway on Jeju Island from May 29 through 31, organized by the Jeju Peace Institute and hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the International Peace Foundation, the East Asia Foundation and The JoongAng Ilbo.

○ The event has brought together a number of prominent leaders and academics from home and abroad, including incumbent and former Prime Ministers Chung Hong-won and Han Seung-soo of the ROK, former Prime Ministers Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia and Yukio Hatoyama of Japan, and Foreign Minister Jose Luis Guterres of Timor-Leste.

* The Forum themed “New Waves in Asia” consists of 50-odd sessions on foreign affairs and security; economy and management; environment; culture; women; and regional development.

3. The Foreign Ministry, as a main sponsor of the event, will further enhance its role in the Forum as part of public diplomacy. In order to make effective use of the Forum outcome in attaining its diplomatic goals, the Ministry will organize or participate in sessions on foreign affairs and security – specifically, the Korean Peninsula under the new global leadership; energy security cooperation in North East Asia for sustainable growth; and the vision for East Asian regional peace community.

4. The Jeju Forum is expected to serve as a good opportunity for the world’s leaders and experts to explore ways to achieve peace and co-prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia through in-depth and diverse discussions. It will also likely contribute to enhancing the participants’ understanding on the foreign policy and policy priorities of the new ROK government.