Park Jin: "Clearly Stated to China That the Three No's on THAAD Are Not an Agreement or Promise"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] On the 10th, Foreign Minister Park Jin stated, “Regarding the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) issue, I clearly mentioned that the response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats is a self-defensive measure and a matter of our security sovereignty.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During his visit to China, Minister Park said at a press conference that “the day before, I held a five-hour Korea-China foreign ministers’ meeting with Wang Yi, China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister, where we exchanged broad opinions on THAAD, supply chain cooperation, strengthening Korea-China relations, and the Korean Peninsula issue.”

Minister Park said that after the Korea-China foreign ministers’ meeting ended, the Chinese Foreign Ministry provided a separate document containing discussions related to THAAD, emphasizing their security concerns and requesting appropriate handling of the issue.

A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking to reporters on site, explained that regarding Minister Park’s remarks to Wang Yi, “the so-called ‘three no’s’ are not binding on us,” and “we reminded once again that those who negotiated THAAD during the previous administration directly stated this.”

Minister Park is also reported to have said, “The more the Chinese side continues to raise issues related to the ‘three no’s,’ the more it worsens mutual perceptions between the peoples of the two countries and acts as an obstacle to bilateral relations,” and “for the development of a new future-oriented relationship, it would be helpful for bilateral relations if this issue is no longer raised.”

In this regard, Minister Park said at the press conference, “Both sides agreed that THAAD should not become an obstacle affecting bilateral relations.”

The senior Foreign Ministry official conveyed the impression that “Wang Yi also understood the position expressed by Minister Park in his own way,” and added, “I believe the Chinese side also judges that this does not help China’s national interests.”

Regarding the outcomes of this meeting, Minister Park explained, “We exchanged frank and constructive opinions on issues of mutual interest,” and “we proposed a joint action plan for the future development of Korea-China relations containing concrete measures for implementation by both foreign ministries, and China agreed to promote it.”

The action plan proposed by Korea newly includes diplomatic and defense authorities’ ‘2+2’ foreign and security dialogue, supply chain dialogue, maritime cooperation dialogue, and carbon neutrality cooperation.

Additionally, Minister Park introduced the results of the meeting, saying, “I clearly explained our position on North Korea’s nuclear issue,” and “I urged China to play a constructive role so that North Korea stops provocations, returns to dialogue, and walks the path of genuine denuclearization, and China agreed with this.”

The senior Foreign Ministry official said, “China is also closely monitoring the North Korean situation and is understood to be concerned about provocations,” and evaluated, “The ‘2+2’ foreign and defense vice ministerial dialogue scheduled to be held within this year for strategic communication in diplomacy and security between China and Korea is very meaningful in this context.” If the 2+2 meeting is held, there is also a possibility of further communication on the THAAD issue.

Furthermore, Minister Park conveyed that consensus was formed on expanding cultural content exchanges to revitalize cultural and human exchanges, as well as increasing flights between Korea and China.

However, it appears that variables remain before the full resumption of Korean cultural content exports to China and the end of the Hanhanryeong (Korean Wave ban) can be realized.

Minister Park said, “We agreed to promote shuttle diplomacy between the two foreign ministers in the future,” and “Wang Yi decided to visit Korea at an appropriate time.”

A senior Foreign Ministry official, regarding the possibility of a Korea-China summit, said, “Apart from bilateral diplomacy, I always think there is a possibility of meeting at multilateral summits,” and “therefore, we hope for such a possibility at the multilateral summit at the end of the year and will prepare diplomatically.”