Jokowi Meets N. Korean Foreign Minister and S. Korean Ambassador

Jakarta Globe, SP/Deti Mega Purnamasari, 13 Aug 2014

President-elect Joko Widodo. (Antara photo/Widodo S. Jusuf)

Jakarta. President-elect Joko Widodo held two separate meetings on Monday with senior officials from both North and South Korea to discuss Indonesia’s bilateral ties with the two countries ahead of him assuming the office of president in October.

“North Korean foreign minister, Ri Su-yong, congratulated me for winning the presidential election, it was a direct message from Kim Jong-un,” Joko said on Monday at City Hall.

Ri praised the Jakarta governor, calling him a humble man with an impressive track record as an administrator. Pyongyang had praise for Joko’s efforts to raise living standards, the foreign minster said.

“I hope he can work even harder for his people,” Ri added.

The North Korean minister on Wednesday also met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa.

After meeting Joko, Ri said he hoped for a deepening of bilateral ties between Pyongyang and Jakarta.

“I expect major successes in public services and the country’s development,” he added.

Earlier in the day Joko also met with the South Korean ambassador to Indonesia, Cho Tae-young.

“The discussion was mostly about the economy and culture,” Joko said, adding that Cho had invited him to Korea for a state visit after his October inauguration.

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