Presidential Office “Low likelihood of U.S.-North Korea contact on the APEC sidelines”… President Lee to attend ASEAN and APEC summits 16~19 - 경향신문

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Presidential Office “Hard to assert the likelihood of U.S.-North Korea contact”

“Cannot rule out the possibility of a U.S.-China-Russia meeting… Korean Peninsula issues may also be discussed”

Wi Sung-rak, Director of the Office of National Security, gives a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae on the 12th regarding the President’s travel schedule. Cheong Wa Dae photo press corps

The presidential office assessed that the likelihood of U.S.-North Korea contact taking place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Shenzhen, China, on the 18~19 is not high. However, it is watching the possibility that, if a meeting among the U.S., Chinese, and Russian leaders is realized, Korean Peninsula issues could be discussed. President Lee Jae Myung will visit the Philippines and China for four days from the 16th, attending the Korea-ASEAN summit and the APEC summit, respectively.

A senior presidential official told reporters on the 12th that “the possibility of North Korea taking part in multilateral venues on the sidelines of APEC, etc., is small.” On the prospect of U.S.-North Korea contact, the official added, “It is unlikely to happen on that (APEC) occasion,” and “We do not know whether U.S.-North Korea contact will occur before or after the summit.”

He said, “If I had to compare, there may be even a hair’s breadth more chance of such contact happening outside rather than during the summit period,” adding, “There are many unpredictable players, so I do not want to speak in definitive terms.” On the possibility of a U.S.-North Korea summit, he said, “Expectations and interest are far greater than the actual likelihood,” and, “Of course, we are making preparations and are in extensive communication with the United States.”

Regarding speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump, in pushing for a summit with North Korea, could reach a so-called ‘bad deal’ that would effectively acknowledge the North’s possession of nuclear weapons, the senior presidential official took a cautious stance. He said, “We are not getting ahead of ourselves when it is unclear whether there will even be negotiations at this point,” adding, “Recognizing North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed state is not something we are considering.”

The presidential office said that, as for the possibility of a meeting among the U.S., Chinese, and Russian leaders on the sidelines of the APEC summit, “we cannot rule out the possibility, so we are watching it closely.” The official added, “There are various speculations about what topics might be discussed; we cannot categorically say that Korean Peninsula issues would not be on the agenda, so we are also watching that and communicating as needed with the relevant countries.”

On concerns that, in the wake of the U.S. midterm election results, discussions on the transfer of wartime operational control between South Korea and the United States could face setbacks, he said, “Nothing has yet materialized in particular,” while adding, “We are keeping that in view as well and consulting on it.” He said, “Wartime operational control was also one of the items discussed at the ROK-U.S. defense ministers’ talks, and the discussions are proceeding well.” He added, “Issues related to nuclear-powered submarines and the nuclear cooperation agreement have not yet entered a normal discussion process, but we are working to do so as soon as possible.”

President Lee will embark on a four-day trip from the 16th to attend multilateral meetings. Wi Sung-rak, Director of the Office of National Security, said in a Cheong Wa Dae briefing that President Lee will attend ASEAN-related summits in Manila, the Philippines, on the 16~17, then carry out his APEC summit schedule in Shenzhen, China, on the 18~19, before returning home.

On the first day, the 16th, President Lee will attend the Korea-ASEAN summit to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation. At the subsequent Korea-Mekong summit with the leaders of the five Mekong River countriesVietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodiahe will express his commitment to advancing the Korea-Mekong strategic partnership and discuss ways to deepen cooperation with countries along the Mekong in areas such as critical minerals and responses to transnational crime.

On the morning of the second day, the 17th, President Lee will attend the ASEAN+3 (Korea, China, Japan) summit, leading discussions on crisis responses in the food and energy sectors and presenting future cooperation plans. He will also attend the East Asia Summit (EAS) for the first time since taking office, to state the Korean government’s position on key regional issues such as online scams (fraud) and to share his vision for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. The East Asia Summit is a leaders’ forum that discusses strategic, security, and economic issues in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific. Eighteen countries participate, including the 10 ASEAN members, Korea, China, Japan, the United States, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and India.

On the 18th, President Lee will travel to Shenzhen, China, to carry out the official APEC summit schedule. He will also attend a welcome dinner hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife that day. At the APEC summit on the 19th, he plans to present response measures to energy supply chain shocks originating in the Middle East and to call for cooperation to restore the multilateral trading order.

Attention is focused on whether a Korea-China summit will be realized on the occasion of this trip. Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will visit China on the 13~14 to hold talks with Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister. It appears to be a preliminary meeting to coordinate bilateral agendas ahead of the APEC summit.