(Unofficial translation)

Good afternoon, I am glad to meet you all. I’d like to welcome you, the delegation from the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies, to Cheong Wa Dae. I understand that your delegation comprises members from as close as China, Japan, ASEAN, Australia and Mongolia and from as far as Russia, Southwest Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East and, farther still, from Europe and Africa.

A few days ago, I attended the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the East Asia Summit and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Summit held in Thailand. After meeting with leaders of ASEAN member states there, today I’m meeting with news agency representatives from the Asia-Pacific region, which makes me all the more pleased. 

At the recent RCEP Summit, the participating leaders concluded an agreement on the RCEP, the world’s largest mega free trade accord, and agreed to finally sign it next year. This carries crucial significance for the expansion of regional free trade and common prosperity. It is also an immensely great achievement in that it will serve as a very important stepping stone toward a mutually beneficial and open free trade system, disparity-free economic development and an economic community. 

It's also in line with the spirit of a people-centered community of mutual prosperity and peace that my Administration is pursuing. The New Northern and Southern policies represent our Government’s concrete efforts to achieve this vision. 

The ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit and the Mekong-Republic of Korea Summit will be held in Busan on the 25th of this month. They will be meaningful occasions to dramatically advance cooperation with our partners for shared future growth, the ASEAN and Mekong countries; enhance connectivity further; and discuss collaborating for common prosperity. They will also serve as an opportunity to expand a people-centered community of mutual prosperity and peace to Asia and make significant contributions to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. I’d like to ask for your keen interest and support. 

Peace on the Korean Peninsula is the starting point for achieving a peaceful community of mutual prosperity. All of you here have delivered news to the world about our efforts to build peace on the Peninsula since last year’s PyeongChang Winter Olympics, which became a meaningful peace Olympics.

Across the globe, you have reported on historic events aimed at peace on the Korean Peninsula, such as the three inter-Korean summits, the two North Korea-United States summits, the meeting at Panmunjeom among the leaders of the two Koreas and the United States and U.S. President Trump stepping over the Military Demarcation Line.   

There still remain many critical junctures but these are paths we must take for peace not only on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia but also in the rest of the world. I believe that your interest and support will be of great help in writing a new chapter on peace in history. 

I was told that the OANA General Assembly will be held in Seoul tomorrow to discuss new challenges facing journalism, technological innovation and issues of trust. I greatly welcome and have high expectations for the meeting. I believe that these are the tasks facing the world’s media in this era. I wish for great achievements from the General Assembly and the OANA’s continued progress. 

Thank you.