Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated on local time (the 23rd), "We will continue our efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea with patience for peaceful coexistence and common growth on the Korean Peninsula."

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Cho asked EAS member states for their continued interest and cooperation in efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue and diplomacy during the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Manila, Philippines, today.

The EAS is a summit-level strategic consultative body involving the 10 ASEAN member states, South Korea, the United States, China, Japan, Russia, India, Australia, and New Zealand. During today's meeting, major regional political and security issues, including the Korean Peninsula, the South China Sea, Myanmar, and the Middle East, were discussed.

While participating countries expressed concern over North Korea's continued nuclear and missile development, they shared the view that the North Korean nuclear issue must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

Regarding the South China Sea, Minister Cho reaffirmed the government's principled stance, stating, "Freedom of navigation and overflight must be guaranteed in the South China Sea, a vital maritime lifeline, and a maritime order based on international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), must be upheld."

He then appreciated the efforts of relevant countries toward concluding the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, emphasizing the importance of establishing a code of conduct that complies with international law and does not infringe upon the rights of third parties.

A significant number of participating countries also noted the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and safety in the South China Sea.

Regarding the recent escalation of tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, Minister Cho emphasized that free and safe navigation of vessels must be guaranteed in all international waters.

In addition, concerning the Myanmar issue, he stated that the South Korean government supports efforts to resolve the crisis based on ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus (5PC) and is actively participating in improving the humanitarian situation.

(Photo: Yonhap News)