Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said today (7th) that the Blue House convened an emergency ministers' meeting in connection with the murder of a public official last month and raised a question to the National Security Council (NSC) about not calling him.
Minister Kang said at the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Transportation Affairs Committee's state affairs audit today that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees also saw the media and knew that the Blue House convened an emergency ministerial meeting on the 23rd to 24th of last month.
Minister Kang replied, "I don't think that's right. I'm talking on the phone frequently with the (National Security) Office," pointing out that the Blue House'passed' the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Kang said that he did not receive the call for the meeting, "I thought that there was a problem in that part, so the next NSC Standing Committee raised the problem, requested correction, and it was corrected."
He added, "It is impossible for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see such an important meeting through the media," he added. "I don't think it was a meeting to pass me."
Minister Kang also recently reported on a media report that only Minister Kang did not attend a luncheon where four to five ministerial-level personnel such as President Roh Young-min, head of the Blue House presidential secretary, Seo Hoon, head of the National Security Office, and Minister of Unification Lee In-young discussed major issues. It's easy to meet and I also have such lunches from time to time.”
Regarding the former ambassador of North Korea Jo Seong-gil to South Korea, he said, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has played a sufficient role, but it is difficult to provide details."
(Photo = Yonhap News)