KOREAN EMBASSY
NEWSLETTER
Address: 11th Floor, ASB Bank Tower, 2 Hunter Street, Wellington 6012, Tel: 04-473-9073, Fax: 04-472-3865 E-mail: researcher1-nz@mofa.go.kr, Website: www.koreanembassy.org.nz
Facebook: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in New Zealand
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
I. President Park meets with New Zealand PM
President Park Geun-hye met with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on July 26 at Cheong Wa Dae.
Prime Minister Key visited Korea to attend an official ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement ending hostilities of the Korean War (1950-1953).
“As New Zealand is one of Korea’s traditional ally countries, I’d like to welcome Prime Minister Key and his delegation to Korea,” said President Park. “The great sacrifice of New Zealanders helped protect the free- dom and democracy of Korea, which also enabled Korea’s economic development.”
1
[Photo]
President Park Geun-hye (right) shakes hands with Prime Minister John Key at Cheong Wa Dae on July 26 (photo: Cheong Wa Dae).
2 Prime Minister Key said that he was impressed by Korea’s remarkable developments in democracy, economy, and education over the last 60 years since the war. He also said that Korea and New Zealand have been enhancing bilateral relations as ally countries based on historic ties, while mentioning the Koreans living in New Zealand who show exemplary contributions to social development of the coun- try.
In regard to North Korean nuclear issues, the prime minister said that New Zealand supports South Korea’s initiative in a constructive dialogue-based vision, and he expressed New Zealand’s support for President Park’s efforts at trust- and confidence-building with North Korea and for international efforts to persuade the North to give up its nuclear weapons program.
I. President Park meets with New Zealand PM (continued)
[Photo] President Park Geun-hye (right) holds summit with Prime Minister John Key during the Korea-New Zealand summit at Cheong Wa Dae (photo: Cheong Wa Dae).
3 On Sat 27 July, a ceremony commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Signing of the Korean War Armi- stice hosted by the NZ government was held at the National War Memorial in Wellington.
The commemoration was attended by President of the NZKVA Jim Newman and Korean War Veterans with Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, Minister for Courts Hon Chester Borrows, Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Jae-Hyun Shim, Wellington City Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, Diplomatic Corps Representatives and President of the Wellington Korean Community Byung-Nam Park.
The official ceremony which was attended by total 250 participants included speeches delivered by the Governor General, Minister Borrows and Mr. Shim, prayers, wreath laying, national anthems and placing floral tributes at the tomb of the unknown warrior.
After this ceremony, there was an official reception hosted by Minister Borrows at Parliament.
II. Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Signing of the Korean War Armistice in Wellington
[Photo]
Korean War Veterans at the National War Memorial in Wellington (bottom right) Deputy Head of Mission Mr Je-Hyun Shim(far left) laying wreath
