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South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (right) talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho during the banquet of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) at Singapore’s EXPO and Convention and Exhibition Centre on Aug. 3 (provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
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Kang Kyung-wha and Ri Yong-ho run into each other by chance and discuss inter-Korean issues
During the 25th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on Aug. 3, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho met to discuss inter-Korean issues, but they did not have a formal meeting. “Foreign Minister Kang and Foreign Minister Ri ran into each other by chance in the banquet hall at dinner and exchanged their candid opinions about a number of situations following the inter-Korean and North Korea-US summits,” said a senior official from South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Aug. 3. “During the conversation, we mentioned the need to hold a separate foreign minister meeting, but the North Koreans responded that they weren’t in a position to take part in such a meeting.” Kang and Ri met during the forum’s gala dinner and had a friendly conversation. Kang was the first to approach Ri, the Foreign Ministry reported. But there is speculation that Ri’s rejection of the proposal for a formal meeting was connected with the displeasure North Korea has shown recently about the slow pace of progress in inter-Korean relations. During a meeting with Kang on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi mentioned the “positive role” of an end-of-the-war declaration, just as he had done the previous day. The issue of the THAAD missile defense system – which provoked a heated discussion between the two foreign ministers in their one-on-one meeting during last year’s forum – appeared on the meeting agenda this year, as well. But since South Korea and China agreed to improve relations at the end of last year, this year’s remarks appear to have been toned down. Wang reportedly mentioned China’s basic stance that THAAD runs contrary to its strategic interests and asked Kang to “work toward the complete resolution of this issue.” Kang reportedly countered by asking China to “make a more proactive effort to normalize cooperation and exchange between our two countries.” This was an oblique reference to the fact that China has not completely called off its “economic retribution.” Kang also explained that “the THAAD issue can be naturally resolved at the same time that the North Korean nuclear issue is resolved.” Wang said he had “publicly expressed China’s position” about declaring the end of the Korean War “while responding to a question by a South Korean reporter yesterday.” During a press conference the day before, Wang said, “It’s possible for each country involved, and for South and North Korea in particular, to express their opinions about bringing the war to an end.” “Since [declaring the end of the war] is a sort of political declaration, it would play a positive and helpful role in moving denuclearization forward,” Wang also said during his meeting with Kang. By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
