Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during the video-linked session of the ASEAN Regional Forum 2020 at the foreign ministry in Seoul on Sept. 12, 2020 (Photo: Yonhap) Seoul (VNA) - Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has called for Asia-Pacific countries to send a "unified message" for the resumption of dialogue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), renewing Seoul's resolve to forge ahead with efforts for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Speaking at the virtual ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on September 12, Kang also highlighted the Republic of Korea (RoK)'s push to improve inter-Korean ties through various projects for cross-border cooperation, which she called a "cornerstone" of peace on the peninsula, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
"Minister Kang said that although it would be difficult to resolve the long-standing distrust on the Korean Peninsula in a short period of time, the peninsula issue can be settled only through sustained dialogue and cooperation," the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.
"The minister said she expects the ARF to send a unified message calling for a peaceful resolution of the issue thorough an early resumption of dialogue," it added.
The virtual ARF session brought together representatives from 27 countries and organisations, including the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the United States, China and Japan.
On the South China Sea issue, Kang reiterated Seoul's position in support of the freedom of navigation and overflights in the strategically vital waterway, saying peace in the sea is particularly crucial at a time of the COVID-19 crisis.
In addition, the minister stressed the importance of the regional countries remaining vigilant against a series of nontraditional security challenges, such as terrorism and cyberincursions, noting increased cyberspace activity amid the pandemic./.
VNA
