1. On January 30, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with Rose Gottemoeller, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, who is on a visit to the Republic of Korea to attend the ROK-US Disarmament and Nonproliferation Consultation for the year 2015. In their meeting, the Foreign Minister and the Under Secretary exchanged views on key issues in the field of disarmament and nonproliferation and ways to work together in the field.

* The US delegation includes Thomas Countryman, Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation, and Frank Rose, Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance.

2. Minister Yun and Under Secretary Gottemoeller noted with appreciation the strengthening global partnership between their two countries in various fields. Furthermore, they took note of their scope of cooperation being expanded beyond the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the North Korean nuclear issue of the past to include such global security issues as those concerning cyber and outer space.

◦ Minister Yun noted with appreciation that the “ROK-US Disarmament and Nonproliferation Consultation,” a high-level consultative mechanism for comprehensive discussions on various matters of concern in the field of disarmament and nonproliferation, is being held on an annual basis since 2013. He went on to voice his hope that in the forthcoming consultation, the two sides will exchange their views in a candid manner and thereby produce constructive outcome.

3. Minister Yun, calling the North Korean nuclear issue a key issue threatening the international nonproliferation regime and the stability in Northeast Asia, stressed the need for the ROK and the US to collaborate closely toward the denuclearization of North Korea. In response, Under Secretary Gottemoeller proposed that the two countries continue close consultation in joint efforts toward substantial progress on the North Korean nuclear issue. 


               Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation