1. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Han Seung-soo and US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell held the 
ROK-US Foreign Ministers' Meeting on June 7, 2001, and discussed various issues of mutual interest 
including the outcome of the US review of its policy toward North Korea. 

2. Taking this opportunity, the ROK and the US reaffirmed their solid alliance, and agreed that maintaining 
such alliance is crucial for the consistent implementation of the engagement policy toward North Korea. 
Secretary Powell explained the US government's decision to engage in dialogue with North Korea in the 
context of a comprehensive approach, and that it will take necessary measures to resume dialogue with 
North Korea in the near future. He added that the decision reflects the discussion between the Presidents of 
the ROK and the US, the ROK-US bilateral meeting during Deputy Secretary of State Armitage's visit to Korea, 
and consultations with Korea and Japan during two rounds of TCOG meetings. He also emphasized that the 
US actively supports President Kim Dae-jung's policy of reconcilation and cooperation toward North Korea, 
and that the US government’s policy goal is to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. In the 
process of implementing its policy toward North Korea, Secretary Powell reassured that the US will continue 
to maintain close consultations with the ROK and Japan, and make efforts to take full account of the position 
of the ROK government. 

3. He also expressed the US hope that the 2nd inter-Korean Summit will be held at an early date. Minister 
Han explained, to Secretary Powell, the ROK's achievements in reforming its four major sectors: corporate, 
finance, labor and public. He also expressed concern over the US attempt to activate safeguard measures to 
resolve the steel industry issue, and underlined the need for prudence when activating such measures. The 
ROK-US Foreign Ministers' Meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm the solid alliance between the ROK 
and the US, and contributed to further strengthening the coordination of North Korea policies between the 
two countries. 

4. The outcome of the recent US review of its North Korea policy has clarified that the US government is 
willing to actively pursue fundamental changes in its relations with North Korea, and the ROK government 
believes that it lies in the same course as the spirit of the ROK's policy of reconcilation and cooperation 
toward the North. Furthermore, the ROK and the US reaffirmed that the two countries will resolve bilateral 
issues based on the spirit of reciprocity. 


                                                                Spokesperson of MOFAT

* unofficial translation