USTR Chief Yu Cautious, Says "No Separate Comment" on Public Support
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Amid reports that Yoo Myung-hee, the Chief Negotiator for Trade Policy, who is running for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), is trailing Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in preference polls, the government stated that it plans to make a comprehensive judgment while respecting the positions and expectations of member countries as well as the election procedures.
On the 29th, Lee Jae-woong, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained at a regular briefing, "An internal review regarding the procedures is currently underway, and the government plans to make a comprehensive judgment while respecting the positions and expectations of member countries and the WTO Director-General election procedures."
Regarding reports that the Nigerian candidate led Chief Negotiator Yoo by a large margin in the preference poll, he said, "It is a principle in the WTO Director-General election procedure that the individual vote counts compiled by the chairpersons are not disclosed," adding, "Some foreign media have released figures, but these numbers are presumed to be estimates released by the Nigerian side."
Furthermore, he refrained from commenting on the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) public endorsement of Chief Negotiator Yoo. Deputy Spokesperson Lee said, "There is nothing to specifically comment on regarding the U.S. position statement," and explained, "We are currently reviewing internal procedures on how to proceed and plan to comprehensively review all relevant circumstances."
On the day the WTO announced the results of the member countries' preference poll, USTR issued a statement saying, "We support the election of Korea's Chief Negotiator Yoo as the next WTO Director-General." USTR evaluated, "Chief Negotiator Yoo is a true expert in the field of trade, having built an outstanding career over 25 years in trade negotiations and policy formulation," and added, "He possesses all the skills necessary to effectively lead the WTO."
Meanwhile, regarding the recent claim by the Chinese Communist Youth League that the Korean War was a civil war between North and South Korea rather than an invasion by North Korea, the government reiterated that it is an internationally recognized and undeniable fact that the Korean War broke out due to North Korea's invasion.
Deputy Spokesperson Lee stated, "As seen in past United Nations Security Council resolutions that viewed North Korea's armed attack as a destruction of peace and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of North Korean troops north of the 38th parallel, it is an internationally recognized and undeniable fact that the Korean War broke out due to North Korea's invasion," adding, "The outbreak of the Korean War and related matters are already internationally settled issues and clear historical facts that cannot be changed." He also added, "We are communicating and taking necessary measures with the Chinese side regarding our concerns."
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