President Jokowi, US Secretary of State Discuss Korean Peninsula Issue

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi responds to reporters’ questions after accompanying President Jokowi in a meeting with Secretary of State of the United States, at the Merdeka Palace, on Sunday (5/8). (Photo: PR/Agung)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Sunday (5/8) at the Merdeka Palace met with Secretary of State of the United States Mike Pompeo to discuss among others the condition in the Korean Peninsula.

“US State Secretary Pompeo has visited Pyongyang (North Korea) after a Summit between President Trump and President Kim Jong Un. He said that there has been a progress (in Korean Peninsula), but it is not as fast as we expected,” Retno told the reporters after the meeting.

President Jokowi, the Minister added, asserted that Indonesia hopes for stability and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula; thus, Indonesia will continue to support peace and stability in the peninsula. President Jokowi expressed that he has intention to use the 18^th Asian Games held in Indonesia this year to tighten bilateral friendship between the two countries, Retno said.

“Thus, the Asian Games can serve its P-to-P (private to private) function because the most important thing in the process of peace is to maintain trust and confidence–building,” the Minister said, adding that Indonesia also wants to contribute in trust and confidence–building measures particularly related to P-to-P between two communities.

During the meeting, Retno said that President Jokowi also raised the issue of Palestine and stressed that Palestine is one of Indonesia’s foreign policy priorities. The President also expressed his hopes that the United States continues to contribute to the process in achieving peace in Palestine, Retno said.

“President Jokowi said that Two-State Solution is the only solution because it is the most valuable and long lasting one that is possible to be implemented,” the Minister said.

Also accompanying President Jokowi during the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Retno Marsudi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, and Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Budi Bowoleksono. (DNA/ES) (RAS/EP/Naster)