1. The Republic of Korea (ROK) acceded to the eight-member SICA (Central American Integration System) as a non-regional observer on August 27. The agreement on the accession was signed by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sung-han, who was on a visit to El Salvador to attend a Session of ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean), and SICA Secretary-General Juan Daniel Aleman.

2. The Republic of Korea is the third Asian country after Japan and Taiwan to join SICA as a non-regional observer. The accession will allow the ROK to take an active part in consultations on politics, economy, trade, development and security in the SICA region. Such efforts are expected to contribute to further expanding the ROK-SICA cooperation, and to greatly support the operations of the ROK companies and safety of the ROK nationals in the region.

* Under the agreement on the accession, the ROK government can request permission, or it will be invited by SICA to attend its summits and ministerial meetings as a non-regional observer. Furthermore, the ROK will not shoulder any financial burden due to its status.

3. Vice Minister Kim attended the 34th Session of ECLAC held in El Salvador on August 27-28. In the meeting, he announced the ECLAC strategy for 2014-2015 and expressed the willingness of the ROK government to support the development of Latin America by working more closely with the region and providing assistance in the field of security.

° On the sidelines of the ECLAC meeting, Vice Minister Kim paid a courtesy call on El Salvador’s Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez and held a bilateral meeting with Vice Foreign Minister Jaime Miranda to discuss ways for the ROK and El Salvador to work together. Vice Minister Kim also held a gathering with officials of ROK companies operating in the country as well as leaders of the local ROK community.

* ECLAC is one of the UN’s regional commissions established in 1948 with the aim of achieving socio-economic development as well as promoting integration and cooperation in Latin America. It has been playing a leading role in building a paradigm for economic development in Latin America by conducting various economic studies and technical cooperation projects. The ROK became a full member of ECLAC in July 2007.

                    Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation