OSCE Summit

Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan, who is attending the OSCE Summit (12.1-2, Astana), explained ways to enhance cooperation between Korea and the OSCE, and the recent situation on the Korean peninsula, including the North Korean artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island and the North Korean nuclear issue, in his address to the Summit’s plenary meeting on Dec. 2. He also called for the OSCE participating countries to take a stern and clear position on the North Korean armed provocation. Addressing the plenary meeting, representatives from the UK, Australia, Spain, Turkey, Luxembourg, and Japan also strongly condemned North Korea’s artillery shelling of Yeonpyong Island and attack on innocent civilians, and promised to give support and cooperation to the Korean government in responding to the incident. On the sidelines of the Summit, Minister Kim met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and representatives from 14 countries, including the US (Secretary of State Clinton), Russia (Foreign Minister Lavrov), France (Prime Minister Fillon), the UK (Deputy Prime Minister Clegg), Austria (President Fischer), Kazakhstan (Foreign Minister Saudabayev), Denmark (Foreign Minister Espersen), and the Netherlands (Prime Minister Rutte). During the meetings, Minister Kim exchanged opinions about the situation on the Korean peninsula including the North Korean artillery attack on Yeonpyong Island, and asked for support and cooperation on our government’s policy. The Korean delegation’s participation in the Summit is seen to have increased the OSCE participating countries’ understanding of the recent security situation on the Korean peninsula, including North Korea’s artillery attack on Yeonpyong Island and the North Korean nuclear issue, while eliciting wider international denunciation and criticism of the North’s armed provocation and securing closer cooperation. The OSCE Summit, which was held on Dec. 1-2, was attended by 56 member countries, 12 Partners for Co-operation, and representatives of the international organizations including the UN and the EU. The Summit discussed ways to establish security community across Europe, the Atlantic, and Eurasia, and adopted the Astana Declaration as a final document.