(LEAD) FM says N.K. provocations likely aimed at hindering S. Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation

김승연 / 2024-01-12 15:02:38

(LEAD) FM-inauguration

▲ Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul speaks during a press conference following his inauguration at the foreign ministry headquarters in Seoul on Jan. 12, 2024. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) FM-inauguration

(LEAD) FM says N.K. provocations likely aimed at hindering S. Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details throughout; CHANGES photos)

By Kim Seung-yeon and Yi Wonju

SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's recent artillery shell firings near the western sea border appear to be aimed at driving a wedge in strengthening security cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan, Seoul's top diplomat said Friday.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul made the remarks during a presser following his inauguration, when asked about his assessment of what was behind the North's latest provocations over the weekend.

"The South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation and the South Korea-U.S. extended deterrence have been building up under the Yoon Suk Yeol government, and we are seeing the concrete efforts to strengthen the deterrence and those taking form in a very tangible way, making (North Korea) anxious," Cho said.

He said the North's belligerence suggests its "underlying fear" over the solidifying deterrence plans between Seoul and Washington.

"I personally think that (they) may have done so with the intention of driving a wedge between the South, the U.S. and Japan, or creating some sort of a rift in their trust," Cho said.

He said the government has taken "firm and very restrained" action against Pyongyang's provocations and will continue to do so in consultation with Washington.

On South Korea's relations with China, Cho stressed the importance of trust-building between the two nations, saying that deteriorating public sentiments and mutual perception between the peoples of both sides are more serious problems.

"We have many areas in which we can cooperate, such as economy, arts and humanity and people-to-people exchanges. It's very important that we build trust through substantive cooperation projects," he said.

Touching on the relations with Japan, Cho called for efforts to resolve the issues stemming from the 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, expressing hope for Japanese private companies to "ride the same boat" to resolve the longstanding historical issues, Cho said.

"The third-party reimbursement plan was the only solution to the forced labor issue," Cho said, referring to the South Korean-led proposal of compensating Korean victims without contributions from the liable Japanese companies.

In the face of the intensifying strategic competition between the U.S. and China, the minister called for diplomacy that "integrates economy and security," as the two areas should no longer be dealt with separately given the complexity of the current geopolitical climate.

"I intend to strengthen our diplomatic capabilities to converge on economy and security, and create a work system and culture to make it possible," he said.

Cho said he will also work to promote South Korea's diplomatic status as a significant middle power so as to realize its push to join the envisioned expanded version of the Group of Seven (G7) developed countries.

"Our country is already recognized as an advanced country," Cho said. "I hope to solidify the national status as a potential 'G7 Plus' candidate in the near future, or higher, during my term in office," he added.

(END)

<저작권자(c) 연합뉴스, 무단 전재-재배포, AI 학습 및 활용 금지>