Date: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Time: 10:42~11:13
1. May 24 Measures
Thursday marks the second anniversary of the implementation the ‘May 24 Measures.’ Such measures are sanctions imposed on North Korea as a result of its armed provocations and a message to Pyongyang that provocative actions will be met with consequences. Receiving North Korea’s apology for the sacred lives of our sailors and promise that the tragedies of Cheonan incident will never occur again are both the responsibility of and necessary step for the government to take in order to ensure safety of the Korean people.
The decision to maintain the ‘May 24 Measures’ is based on the public sentiment that decisive actions are necessary against North Korea’s provocations.
Since the implementation, the Korean government has conducted surveys on the difficulties the businesses face as a means to provide necessary support. Moreover, the government granted special loans to the companies engaging in cross border trade and economic cooperation.
2. Minister’s Schedule
Minister Yu Woo-ik sat down for a meeting with eight US congress representatives including Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ileana Ros-Lehtinen at 10:40 A.M.
At 16:00 P.M., Wednesday, Minister Yu is scheduled to have a meeting with the president John Hamre of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, former Assistant to the US President for National Security Affairs Stephen Hadley, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.
