1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, who is visiting New York to accompany President Park Geun-hye on her visit to the US to attend the 70th session of the UN General Assembly and the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, met with his US and Japanese counterparts John Kerry and Fumio Kishida on September 29. The three sides discussed ways to deter North Korea from engaging in a strategic provocation and to work together in case of North Korea’s provocation, and reaffirmed the principle that Japan’s new security legislation should be implemented in a way that respects the ROK’s sovereignty, as discussed on various occasions. They also had in-depth discussions on ways to cooperate in resolving global issues.

2. In his opening remarks, Minister Yun noted with appreciation that the trilateral cooperation, which began with discussions on the North Korean nuclear issue about 20 years ago, has grown into a mechanism that goes beyond the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia to include discussions on global issues. He added that the importance of the trilateral cooperation is further growing.

3. Concerning North Korea’s recent hints of a possible launch of a long-range missile (so-called “satellite”), the three Foreign Ministers, including Minister Yun, expressed serious concern and strongly urged North Korea to refrain from provocation that threatens regional and global peace and stability.

4. Furthermore, the three Foreign Ministers made it clear that if North Korea engages in provocation despite repeated calls to refrain from provocation from countries participating in the Six-Party Talks, including China and Russia, as well as from the international community, that is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions and thus North Korea will face further significant measures taken by the international community.

o The three Foreign Ministers made it clear once again that North Korea’s provocation will only worsen the North’s isolation in the international community, and repeatedly called on North Korea to respond to the resumption of meaningful denuclearization talks with sincerity.

o In addition, the three Foreign Ministers agreed to hold a meeting among the top ROK, US and Japanese negotiators for the Six-Party Talks at an appropriate time and discuss more concrete measures, while maintaining close cooperation among the three countries.

5. Meanwhile, Minister Yun reaffirmed the existing consensus among the three countries that Japan’s newly-revised security legislation should be implemented transparently in a way that respects the ROK’s sovereignty.

o Minister Yun also took note that related discussions, including working-level consultations among relevant authorities of the three countries, are underway for the transparent implementation of the new Guidelines for US-Japan Defense Cooperation and Japan’s security legislation.

6. The three Foreign Ministers shared each country’s policies and measures to address global issues, including the UN’s peacekeeping operations, health security, development cooperation, and climate change, and agreed to further strengthen trilateral cooperation in those areas.


*unofficial translation