1. Second Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific affairs Katarzyna Kacperczyk of Poland on February 2. In their meeting, the two ranking diplomats exchanged views on ways to vitalize inter-governmental dialogue between the Republic of Korea and Poland, such as through high-level exchanges; and ways to promote substantive cooperation in diverse sectors, including science, technology, innovation, defense industry, trade, investment and cultural as well as people-to-people exchanges. The two sides also exchanged views on ways to coordinate with each other responses to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test as well as the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and Europe.

2. The Vice Minister and the Deputy Minister noted with appreciation robust exchanges between high-level officials of the two countries in 2015, including the summit talks, the ROK Foreign Minister’s visit to Poland and the Polish Defense Minister’s visit to the ROK. They agreed to continuously increase cooperation in a way that befits the bilateral strategic partnership forged in 2013 and the ”2014-2016 action plan for the implementation of the bilateral strategic partnership” adopted in 2014.

3. In particular, the two ranking diplomats shared the view that the priority for future cooperation between the two countries should be placed on science, technology and innovation. They agreed to move bilateral cooperation forward in those sectors through various channels, including their joint committees on economy and on science and technology. Given Poland’s potential for infrastructure development with the EU fund, they agreed to continuously seek out specific, mutually beneficial cooperation projects.

◦ Vice Minister Cho asked the Polish government to pay continued attention to and support efforts to resolve challenges and promote the convenience of Korean companies operating in Poland’s special economic zones. With regard to Poland’s plan to modernize its military, the Vice Minister underscored that Poland should fully use the potential for cooperation with the ROK in defense industry. In response, Deputy Minister Kacperczyk expressed willingness for active cooperation and asked for the ROK government’s attention to and cooperation in resuming pork imports from Poland.

◦ Vice Minister Cho, considering the gradual increase in people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, underscored the need to move forward negotiations for the agreements on the working holiday program, on the mutual recognition of driver’s licenses, and on air services. In response, Deputy Minister Kacperczyk, supporting the Vice Minister’s view, proposed that the two countries work closely together to those ends.

4. In the meeting, Vice Minister Cho explained the ROK government’s position on North Korea’s fourth nuclear test and the progress in the discussions on a UN Security Council sanctions resolution. He asked for Poland’s cooperation in the adoption of a strong Security Council sanctions resolution on North Korea as well as in seeking a consistent and stern response from the international community. Deputy Minister Kacperczyk responded by expressing active support for a stern response from the international community. The two sides also exchanged views on the situations in Northeast Asia and at the EU, including Ukraine, as well as ways to work together on the international stage.

5. The ROK-Poland vice foreign ministerial meeting, the first bilateral meeting in only a month since the bilateral summit talks in December 2015, served as an opportunity to review the progress in the implementation of the measures agreed upon at the bilateral summit talks and seek specific ways to increase substantive cooperation between the two countries.


* unofficial translation