Officials, experts to discuss N. Korea nuke, regional issues at Jeju forum

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Aug. 10 (Yonhap) -- The largest international security forum hosted by
South Korea will open later this week on the country's southern resort island,
attended by dozens of senior government officials and prominent scholars from
South Korea and other countries, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday.
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo plans to deliver a keynote speech at Wednesday's
opening of the fifth Jeju Peace Forum, of which the main theme is "Shaping New
Regional Governance in East Asia: A Common Vision for Mutual Benefits and Common,
Prosperity."
"There will be in-depth discussions on various subjects including security,
peace, international cooperation, economy, history, and national brand," the
ministry which sponsors the event said in a press release.
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan is scheduled to host a luncheon for participants
and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will give a speech at a Thursday session,
it added.
On Thursday, the last day of the forum, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kathleen
Stephens, Chinese Ambassador Cheong Younghwa, Russian Ambassador Gleb
Ivashentsov, and EU Ambassador Brian McDonald will have a discussion session on
ways to promote a multilateral security mechanism in East Asia.
The other foreign participants include former Australian prime minister John
Howard, Donald Gregg, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea and currently head of
Korean Society, Charles Morrison, chief of the East-West Center in Hawaii, and
Wang Yingfan, former Chinese vice foreign minister, and Peter Hayes, executive
director of the Nautilus Institute for security and sustainable development.
The Jeju Peace Forum was launched in 2001 and has been held every two years,
organized by the Jeju Peace Institute. The institute is pushing for holding the
event each year.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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