Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
Foreign ministry to create bureau to deal with China
By Lee Min-hyung
Seen above is the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul. Yonhap
By Lee Min-hyung
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will create a new bureau that will exclusively deal with China-related affairs under an organizational restructuring plan.
It will also set up a new bureau to handle 10 countries from the ASEAN bloc, and a division to handle the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC)sanctions on North Korea.
The reorganization plan reflects changing diplomatic needs, the ministry said.
The foreign ministry also said it decided to enlarge a team-level unit, handling works on North Korea sanctions, into a division in reflection of its growing workloads. The team has so far been in charge of informing the UNCS of any violation of the sanctions detected here.
The foreign authority also plans to increase the workforce to engage in tasks related to North Korea’s nuclear affairs and protocol.
The Asia-Pacific bureau which will take charge of works on Japan and the Asia-Pacific regions. Affairs on Southeast Asia will be handled by the ASEAN division.
“We expect the reorganization to serve as an opportunity for the ministry to enhance diplomatic relations with China, Japan and other countries in Asia-Pacific regions,” a ministry official said.
The plan is expected to take into effect from early May after being approved by the Cabinet, the official said.