[3rd] February 22, 2008 Home | Full Contents | MOFAT Homepage   Minister’s Press Conference Minister's Opening Remark at the Press Conference February 20, 2008Hello everyone. I think this will be my last press conference as Foreign Minister, so I‘d like to take this opportunity to look back at foreign affairs and security issues that I have been discussing with all of you for the last 15 months and share my thoughts on them. Since I took office as Foreign Minister 15 months ago, I have been focusing on the agenda of making Korea's foreign policies more constructive, which can be continued onto the next administration. With regard to the North Korean nuclear issue, it is particularly meaningful that all involved parties of the Six-Party Talks, including the ROK, the U.S. and the DPRK, reached agreements on the direction and the framework for resolving this issue.  I believe that it is particularly meaningful that the disabling work is underway and that North Korea has entered the stage of disabling its nuclear facilities. I would also like to note that economic foundations are being made to maintain the momentum for Korea’s economic growth, including the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA). And I believe that what the international community expects the most from Korea is to play a greater role in maintaining world peace and providing development assistance for developing countries. Korea is solidifying the framework of cooperation for world peace and development by participating in the UN PKO and increasing its ODA. Moreover, the Korean government has increased the number of its consular staff in  oversea missions by 170, and posted 103 Assistants for Consular Services where we do not have diplomatic missions. By doing so, we will be able to provide necessary assistance to the Korean people traveling abroad, and secure the safety of our people with a better network of consular services. We should continue to take necessary measures to improve the consular network. It is also meaningful that the Korea-China-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting was established as a separate dialogue system for peace and prosperity of Northeast Asia.  This meeting will be held again in Japan this year since it has become a regular one.  Making Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Summit a regularized framework of cooperation was another thing that I focused on during the last 15 months. Also, in order to expand Korea’s diplomatic sphere, we worked on making details for the ‘Africa Development Initiative’ and laid a foundation for establishing the ‘Middle-East Arab Society’ to strengthen the framework of mutual understanding and cooperation by increasing direct exchanges with the Middle East. In addition, with the ‘Korea-Central Asia Forum,’ we have established an instrument of cooperation with 5 nations in Central Asia with Korea as a hub. The collaborative efforts of the Korean government and the civil society resulted in the successful hosting of the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu. What is important is not the fact that Korea succeeded in hosting the event, but to successfully deliver its main theme of environment for harmony between land and sea. While I served as Foreign Minister for 15 months, I tried not to forget that diplomacy is a process of creating something out of nothing, and of turning something that seemed impossible into the world of possibilities. It has been a great honor for me to participate in historic events for the settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula, by working as a chief negotiator to the Six-party Talks, the National Security Advisor to the President, and the Foreign Minister for the past three years. One of the most vivid memories from my diplomatic career would probably be my visit to the U.S. on January 1, 2007, when U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and I had discussions on how to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue based on the Common and Comprehensive Approach on which consultations have been underway between Korea and the U.S.. In particular, we made a rough sketch of how to resolve the Banco Delta Asia (BDA) issue, and how to create a structure for resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and set up an order of peace and cooperation not only on the Korean Peninsula but in the entire Northeast Asian region. Based on the outcomes of our exchange of views, I am confident that although we haven’t moved as far as we had expected, our rough sketch would continue to work as a framework for resolving these issues that we have. As the Foreign Minister, I have always placed emphasis on how to normalize an abnormal situation of ‘division’ on the Korean Peninsula. This is a special task for Korea when it engages in foreign affairs. To overcome this particular situation, we must strengthen our internal capacity as well as make external circumstances desirable. For the latter, I believe that it is important for Korea to provide the neighboring countries with answers to these following questions: 1) Why is it in the interest of all parties for the two Koreas to be united as one?; 2) Why is it better for all countries that Korea becomes a reunified country rather than maintaining the status quo?; 3) How will a unified Korea benefit them in terms of security and economy? I wish to emphasize once again that Korea will be able to play its due role only with the healthy development of the Korea-U.S. alliance and inter-Korean relations. A hard time came for all of us when more than 20 Koreans were kidnapped in Afghanistan last summer. I worked night and day for 40 days with my staff having intensive discussions to figure out what to do. It was an important lesson learned for us and for all of the Korean people on how to balance the issues of protecting our national image and the safety of our individual citizens at the same time. With regards to PKO and ODA, my heart was full when I visited the Dongmyong Unit in the UNIFIL in Lebanon at the end of last year.  Korean PKO teams are some of the most competitive PKO teams among all UN PKO forces, and the international community welcomes and deeply appreciates our contributions. I believe that Korea should continue to expand its contributions to PKO and take more responsibilities in the international community.  I think that diplomacy, above all other areas of state affairs, is an area where the time-binding character is needed the most.  Human beings have the time-binding character with which we organize our records and experiences and pass them on to the next generation. We need to exert efforts in further developing what we have done well, and making up for weaknesses. And our diplomatic efforts can play an effective role only when journalists like yourselves correctly report our activities to the public so that the public would render us support based on an accurate and objective point of view. In that sense, I thank you for all the constructive criticisms and sincere advices that you have given us. Of course, it is regrettable that there were a few obstacles in the communication process for a while. But I believe that the Korean government should continue to take responsibility in delivering facts through your reports, and the press must provide balanced criticisms based on sheer facts. Lastly, the next Foreign Minister has been designated and practically the transition process is underway. The Minister-designate is much more experienced and insightful than I am, and I myself have learned a great deal from him while working together for a long time. I hope that you will render him utmost cooperation and support.    I think that Korea is in the process which calls for developments through evolutionary changes.  Considering the size, capacity and the current situation of Korea, it is too difficult for Korea to go through rapid changes.  Evolutionary changes would help a nation grow, and it applies to Korea's foreign affairs as well, so I ask for your support and cooperation to this end. Thank you. Korea-ASEAN Youth Exchange Program 2008 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with the collaboration of the National Council of Youth Organizations of Korea, hosted the "Korea-ASEAN Future-Oriented Cooperation Project: Youth Exchange Program 2008" with 10 member states of the ASEAN from February 14 to 21 in Seoul and Gangwon Province. 110 youths from Korea and 10 ASEAN countries enjoyed this event altogether. The goal of the program is to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the youths of Korea and the member states of ASEAN. Marking its 10th round, this program has been held since 1994 to establish a cooperative partnership between Korea and ASEAN member countries and to strengthen youth exchanges and cooperation. This year's program served as valuable opportunities for exchanging views and enhancing cooperation between the youths of Korea and ASEAN member states under the theme of "Youth's Role in Expanding Korea-ASEAN Economic Cooperation." Around 20 Korean youths are also going to visit Thailand and Brunei Darrussalam in July this year as a part of the Exchange Program for this round. At the "mock Korea-ASEAN Workshop," which was held in Seoul on February 15, participants made presentations regarding specific cases of economic cooperation between Korea and ASEAN and adopted the "Seoul Declaration 2008" at the conclusion of their discussion. The declaration is to be forwarded to the ASEAN Secretariat and the UN Economic and Social Commission in Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Korea-ESCAP Annual Consultation The 20th Korea-United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific(ESCAP) Annual Consultation on the Korea-ESCAP Cooperation Fund(KECF) was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 15, to review on-going cooperation projects and approve new ones. The Korean delegation was headed by Mr. Choi Jai-chul, Director-General of International Economic Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, while the ESCAP delegation was led by Mr. Shigeru Mochida, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ESCAP. In the opening session, Mr. Shigeru Mochida stated that the ESCAP has been facilitating reform efforts to enhance its capability and develop into a regional hub, in particular, by adopting a multi-disciplinary approach in the field of environment and development, and that of great importance is the projects of technical cooperation with the member states for the successful completion of reforms. Mr. Choi Jai-chul affirmed that the Korean government would keep enhancing its cooperation with the ESCAP and that KECF projects should be chosen in the fields where the ESCAP and Korean government have a comparative advantage taking into account the changing and emerging need for the ESCAP and its member states as well as their major policies. At the meeting, the two sides agreed to implement six projects of technical cooperation amounting to US$610,000 in 2008, including provision of ICT(information and communication technology)capacity building training programme, enhancement of ICT accessibility for the disabled, regional intermodal transport planning containing Trans-Asian Railway(TAR) network, promotion of Green Growth, and development of project-framework of trans-Asian energy system(TAES). The Korean Government concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the ESCAP on the Establishment of the Korea-ESCAP Cooperation Fund in September 1987 to support the economic and social development of the Asia- Pacific region and to promote cooperative ties with the ESCAP. From 1987 to 2007, Korea has contributed about US$9.52 million in support of a total of 174 technical cooperation projects in various fields such as development, transportation, energy, environment, and trade facilitation. Joint Study Group Meeting on a possible Korea-China FTA Korea-UK Policy Dialogue on Development Korea’s ODA Website Launched Humanitarian Assistance to Bolivia US Assistant Secretary of State Hill Awarded an Order of Diplomatic Service Merit The Rise of Joseon, the Advent of Buncheong Ware   The Ministry`s policy customers service conforms to the privacy guidelines. Illegal collection of personal information can be punished under related laws. 37 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-787, Republic of Korea TEL :(82-2)2100-8011 FAX : (82-2)2100-7913 fprteam.mofa.go.kr Copyrights 2007 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. All Rights Reserved.