1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China in Munich on February 11. In their 40-minute meeting, the two top diplomats consulted with each other on ways to respond to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test and launch of a long-range missile, including the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution. They also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

2. Minister Yun mentioned that ahead of his visit to Munich, he had met with the UN Secretary-General and Ambassadors to the UN from member states of the Security Council in New York on February 9 and 10. He went on to say that all the sides had agreed on the “need for special responses to the grave situation” where North Korea conducted a nuclear test and launched a long-range missile.

° The Minister commented that during his visit to New York, he could see that the UN Security Council, after issuing a strongly-worded press statement, was making active efforts to adopt an effective sanctions resolution as soon as possible. He stressed that the forthcoming resolution should include strong content and be the terminating resolution so as to prevent North Korea from conducting its fifth and sixth nuclear tests.

° Minister Yun explained that the Republic of Korea had made the difficult decision to fully suspend the operations of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in a show of its firm resolve and in an effort to work with the UN Security Council and the international community. He asked China to play a responsible role as a permanent member of the Security Council.

3. Foreign Minister Wang Yi, sharing the view on the need to accelerate discussions on a new UN Security Council resolution, suggested that the ROK and China communicate and consult closely with each other. He also proposed that the two countries work more closely together as strategic partners in order to attain their shared goal of denuclearizing and establishing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

° Minister Wang pointed out that North Korea’s nuclear test shortly followed by its launch using ballistic missile technology had led to a deterioration of and severe complication in the situation on the Korean Peninsula. In that regard, he stressed that in taking security-related measures, it is important to act prudently, with interests and concerns of neighboring countries factored in. He suggested that the ROK and China continue cooperation and close communication with each other for the long-term peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

4. The two Ministers agreed to continuously step up close communication and consultation on North Korea and its nuclear issue on the occasion of various diplomatic events.


* unofficial translation