Minister Kang to meet with Japanese counterpart Thursday morning
- 5 years ago
강경화 내일 고노 외무상 만날 예정,... 폼페이오 "한미일도 개최할 것"
Seoul's top diplomat is in Thailand for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Kang Kyung-wha will hold numerous bilateral talks with her counterparts from various countries,...including Japan.
Lee Ji-won files this report from Bangkok.
South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will meet with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono on Thursday, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Thailand.
Their meeting will take place at 8-40 AM local time,... and this would be the ministers' first face to face after Japan imposed retaliatory trade restrictions on Seoul earlier this month.
But no solution is expected from the top diplomats' meeting,... as it is simply an effort from both sides to continue their diplomatic talks.
Minister Kang, upon her arrival in Bangkok on Wednesday, said that she will strongly convey Seoul's stance to Kono that Tokyo's export control is unfair, while bringing out Japan's understanding that diplomatic talks need to continue so that their bilateral ties are not severed.
A trilateral sitdown between the two ministers and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also to be held, likely on Friday.
Speaking to reporters en route to Bangkok, Pompeo said he will be meeting with minister Kang and Kono separately, and with both as well.
He said he will encourage them to find a path forward and stress that it's important that the two great partners continue to work closely with the U.S. to denuclearize North Korea.
Minister Kang, in her first multinational ministerial meeting with her ASEAN counterparts Thursday afternoon,... is expected to relay Seoul's stance on the issue, and emphasize how the free-trade spirit must not be hindered for the region's co-prosperity.
This comes after Reuters reported that the U.S. has urged the two countries to sign a "standstill agreement."
Citing a senior U.S. official, Reuters said the standstill agreement would not help narrow the differences between the two sides, but would prevent further actions taking place in a set period of time... to allow talks to happen.
However, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga denied such a report at a regular briefing on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Pompeo, who doesn't anticipate North Korean to take part in the ARF,... said he looks forward to meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho if he ends up coming.
While the meeting between Ri and Pompeo reportedly won't be taking place as Ri will be skipping this year's event, Japan's Kyodo News Agency says the North Korean ambassador to Thailand, Kim Je-bong is slated to take part in the event.
"With the absence of North Korea's foreign minister at this year's event, eyes are now on how Seoul and Tokyo will work to resolve their trade dispute or,... engage in their diplomatic outreaches to other countries.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News, Bangkok."
Seoul's top diplomat is in Thailand for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Kang Kyung-wha will hold numerous bilateral talks with her counterparts from various countries,...including Japan.
Lee Ji-won files this report from Bangkok.
South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will meet with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono on Thursday, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Thailand.
Their meeting will take place at 8-40 AM local time,... and this would be the ministers' first face to face after Japan imposed retaliatory trade restrictions on Seoul earlier this month.
But no solution is expected from the top diplomats' meeting,... as it is simply an effort from both sides to continue their diplomatic talks.
Minister Kang, upon her arrival in Bangkok on Wednesday, said that she will strongly convey Seoul's stance to Kono that Tokyo's export control is unfair, while bringing out Japan's understanding that diplomatic talks need to continue so that their bilateral ties are not severed.
A trilateral sitdown between the two ministers and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also to be held, likely on Friday.
Speaking to reporters en route to Bangkok, Pompeo said he will be meeting with minister Kang and Kono separately, and with both as well.
He said he will encourage them to find a path forward and stress that it's important that the two great partners continue to work closely with the U.S. to denuclearize North Korea.
Minister Kang, in her first multinational ministerial meeting with her ASEAN counterparts Thursday afternoon,... is expected to relay Seoul's stance on the issue, and emphasize how the free-trade spirit must not be hindered for the region's co-prosperity.
This comes after Reuters reported that the U.S. has urged the two countries to sign a "standstill agreement."
Citing a senior U.S. official, Reuters said the standstill agreement would not help narrow the differences between the two sides, but would prevent further actions taking place in a set period of time... to allow talks to happen.
However, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga denied such a report at a regular briefing on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Pompeo, who doesn't anticipate North Korean to take part in the ARF,... said he looks forward to meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho if he ends up coming.
While the meeting between Ri and Pompeo reportedly won't be taking place as Ri will be skipping this year's event, Japan's Kyodo News Agency says the North Korean ambassador to Thailand, Kim Je-bong is slated to take part in the event.
"With the absence of North Korea's foreign minister at this year's event, eyes are now on how Seoul and Tokyo will work to resolve their trade dispute or,... engage in their diplomatic outreaches to other countries.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News, Bangkok."