President Park Geun-hye welcomed visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Cheong Wa Dae on October 31.
They held a meeting to discuss issues concerning Korea and Germany and ways to further boost bilateral cooperation.
“Korea and Germany have developed special ties over the years, as the two have shared the pain of a divided nation and nevertheless have successfully accomplished rapid economic development,” said President Park during the talks.
She continued to say that, “Also, in difficult times, Korea has learned a lot from Germany and the lessons have laid the foundation for our economic growth and have cemented the relationship between our two countries.”
“Among other European countries, Germany is one of the biggest trading partners and one of the most important economic partners for Korea. I hope that the two countries continue to cooperate across many sectors,” the president added.
In response, the German foreign minister said, “I fully agree with what you just said. Our two countries have, very traditionally, built an amicable relationship.”
Prior to the meeting, the German foreign minister spoke with his Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se to discuss North Korean issues, including its nuclear weapons program, as well as to come up with measures to handle the ongoing crisis being committed by Islamist militants.
The German minister also shared his country’s experience of unifying a divided country.
The top diplomats from Korea and Germany urged North Korea with a common voice to give up its simultaneous pursuit of nuclear weapons and economic growth. They stressed that the two countries would work together to lure Pyongyang back toward the path of dialogue and cooperation.
“The only way for Korea to achieve a unified peninsula is the trust-building process proposed by the Korean government,” said the German minister. “Seoul should adjust the pace of its reunification process by watching how the North responds to the South’s efforts.”
He also stressed that, “Sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula could be something unattainable if the North keeps pursuing its dual goals of making nuclear weapons and developing its economy at the same time. We need to be clear to the North on this point.”
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
jiae5853@korea.kr
They held a meeting to discuss issues concerning Korea and Germany and ways to further boost bilateral cooperation.
“Korea and Germany have developed special ties over the years, as the two have shared the pain of a divided nation and nevertheless have successfully accomplished rapid economic development,” said President Park during the talks.
She continued to say that, “Also, in difficult times, Korea has learned a lot from Germany and the lessons have laid the foundation for our economic growth and have cemented the relationship between our two countries.”
President Park Geun-hye (left) welcomes German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Cheong Wa Dae on October 31.
“Among other European countries, Germany is one of the biggest trading partners and one of the most important economic partners for Korea. I hope that the two countries continue to cooperate across many sectors,” the president added.
In response, the German foreign minister said, “I fully agree with what you just said. Our two countries have, very traditionally, built an amicable relationship.”
President Park Geun-hye (third from right) holds talks with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (third from left) at Cheong Wa Dae on October 31.
Prior to the meeting, the German foreign minister spoke with his Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se to discuss North Korean issues, including its nuclear weapons program, as well as to come up with measures to handle the ongoing crisis being committed by Islamist militants.
The German minister also shared his country’s experience of unifying a divided country.
The top diplomats from Korea and Germany urged North Korea with a common voice to give up its simultaneous pursuit of nuclear weapons and economic growth. They stressed that the two countries would work together to lure Pyongyang back toward the path of dialogue and cooperation.
“The only way for Korea to achieve a unified peninsula is the trust-building process proposed by the Korean government,” said the German minister. “Seoul should adjust the pace of its reunification process by watching how the North responds to the South’s efforts.”
He also stressed that, “Sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula could be something unattainable if the North keeps pursuing its dual goals of making nuclear weapons and developing its economy at the same time. We need to be clear to the North on this point.”
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
jiae5853@korea.kr
