Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Insun Meets with Secretary General of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

On April 16, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Insun met with Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Juan Carlos Salazar and exchanged views on cooperation between Korea and ICAO as well as issues related to North Korean missile provocations.

※ The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), established under the 1944 Chicago Convention, is a specialized agency of the UN aimed at promoting the safety and development of international civil aviation. The Secretary General oversees the administrative matters of ICAO.

Vice Minister Kang stated that the Republic of Korea, as the world's eighth-largest aviation power, has contributed to the development of international civil aviation and the innovation of ICAO. She added that Korea will continue to develop a close cooperative relationship with ICAO, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

Secretary General Salazar expressed his gratitude to Korea for its contributions to ICAO's efforts to develop international civil aviation. He also mentioned his expectation that Korea will continue to play a leading role in ICAO's work on digital transformation and response to climate change, among others. Vice Minister Kang said that the Republic of Korea is committed to cooperating with ICAO in various fields, mentioning Korea's annual contribution of 200,000 Canadian dollars from 2023 to 2025 to the Digital Transformation Fund.

Also, Vice Minister Kang strongly condemned North Korea's missile launches, which are a violation of ICAO Council decisions and UN Security Council resolutions. She emphasized that such provocations pose a serious threat to international civil aviation safety, underscoring the importance of ICAO's close cooperation in this regard. Secretary General Salazar shared the Vice Minister's view on the threats to international civil aviation safety posed by North Korea's actions, stating that ICAO will continue its monitoring efforts and strengthen international coordination.