1. Minister Lee Suk-joon of the Office for Policy Coordination at the Prime Minister’ Office, who was on a visit to London, the UK, to attend the fourth Supporting Syria and the Region Conference, met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on February 4. In the meeting, the Minister and the Secretary-General exchanged views on ways for the international community to support Syria and issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, including the North Korean nuclear issue.

2. Minister Lee extended congratulations to the UN Secretary-General on the success of the fourth Supporting Syria and the Region Conference, which had been co-hosted by him and the leaders of the UK, Germany, Kuwait and Norway.

◦ The Minister also voiced hope that the World Humanitarian Summit, which will take place in Istanbul on May 23 and 24 on Secretary-General Ban’s initiative, will serve as an important opportunity to find a solution to the global humanitarian crisis. He added that the government of the Republic of Korea will contribute to the efforts to make a success of the event.

3. In response, Secretary-General Ban extended appreciation to the ROK for its contribution at the fourth Supporting Syria and the Region Conference. The Secretary-General, calling the current humanitarian crisis a crisis of the entire international community, stressed that a stronger solidarity of the international community is necessary to resolve the crisis and voiced expectation for the ROK to play a role in the efforts.

4. With regard to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test, Minister Lee expressed gratitude to the UN Secretary-General for promptly issuing a statement of condemnation in the name of the UN Secretary-General and immediately undertaking additional practical measures, including holding an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the adoption of a new Security Council resolution. In that regard, he highlighted the need for a sanctions resolution strong enough to bring a change in North Korea’s attitude.


* unofficial translation