Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Report on Current Issues to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee on the 5th
"Strong Pressure on North Korea through ROK-US-Japan Cooperation"
Cho Hyun-dong, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, is attending and speaking at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 5th that it will strengthen sanctions against North Korea in coordination with allies such as the United States and Japan in preparation for North Korea's 7th nuclear test and other major provocations.
In the briefing materials on "Presidential Tour Results and North Korean Missile Launches" submitted to the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on the same day, the Ministry reported, "North Korea is launching missiles this year with unprecedented frequency and intensity, and is increasing threats through provocations different from the past."
The Ministry pointed out, "North Korea is refusing negotiations under a hardline stance, escalating nuclear and missile threats, and advancing missile capability enhancement according to its own timetable," adding, "It is also exploiting the difficult situation of Security Council unity due to deteriorating US-China and US-Russia relations."
So far, our government has been strengthening cooperation with the United States and Japan on North Korea and maintaining pressure through strong deterrence messages against North Korea.
Korea, the United States, and Japan announced a series of independent sanctions against North Korea on the 2nd in response to North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches.
The Ministry emphasized, "Close consultations between Korea and the US on measures to enhance the effectiveness of extended deterrence are ongoing," and added, "We will continue efforts to block funding for nuclear and missile development in non-traditional areas such as cyber."
It further stated, "We will ensure that the international community unites to condemn North Korean provocations," and added, "We will strive to lead China and Russia to play a constructive role in joining the unified response of the international community."
To this end, it plans to promote overwhelming public opinion within the international community, including various countries and international organizations, condemning North Korea.
Meanwhile, regarding Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy planned to be announced within the year, the Ministry emphasized, "It will be implemented based on the vision of freedom, peace, and prosperity under the three major cooperation principles of inclusiveness, trust, and reciprocity."
It also stated, "We will build a multilayered and comprehensive cooperation network to expand the geographical scope of global cooperation and the breadth of cooperation agendas," and "The application area of the Indo-Pacific strategy will be expanded not only to Southeast Asia and ASEAN but also to the North Pacific, Oceania, and the Indian Ocean coastal Africa."
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