To Be Held in Gyeongju from October 31 to November 1... On Inviting North Korea: "A Matter for Diplomatic and Unification Authorities to Review"
During the Summit, 20,000 to 30,000 Visitors Expected, Including Businesspeople
President Lee Jaemyung has sent invitation letters to the leaders of member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which will be held in Gyeongju this October.
On the 15th, Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the presidential office, stated during a briefing at the Yongsan presidential office, "Through this letter, President Lee informed the leaders that this year's APEC summit will be held from October 31 to November 1, and conveyed his intention to invite the member countries." She added, "The invitation letter also expressed the hope that the summit will yield tangible results on the themes of strengthening regional connectivity and digital innovation under the main topic of 'A Sustainable Tomorrow We Create Together.'"
APEC has 21 member countries, including Korea, the United States, Japan, China, and Russia. In the letter, President Lee evaluated that APEC has contributed to sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region over the past 30 years.
When asked about the possibility of Chinese President Xi Jinping attending, Spokesperson Kang replied, "China is included among the recipients of the letter," and added, "The final list of participating countries will be announced once it is confirmed."
Regarding whether North Korea could also be invited, she said, "North Korea is not an APEC member, so it was not included among the countries that received the letter." She also responded to a question about whether an invitation to North Korea is being considered by saying that it is a matter to be reviewed by the diplomatic and unification authorities.
When asked whether there had been discussions about inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin, she answered, "I understand that an invitation was sent through diplomatic channels." Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for President Putin. On this issue, Kang stated, "It is difficult to comment on matters related to the ICC at this time."
Kang further explained, "Among the member countries, some have clearly expressed their intention to participate, while others have not." She added, "There are also countries that are not members, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), that have expressed their intention to participate in response to our invitation."
Regarding the preparations for APEC, Kang said, "We are aware of concerns that preparations are progressing slowly," and continued, "We expect that, including about 4,000 government delegates and business representatives, a total of 20,000 to 30,000 people will visit. As for accommodations for businesspeople, arrangements are being made under the leadership of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, so there should not be any major issues."
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