1. During his visit to the UK on July 3 and 4, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Kim Hyoung-zhin met with Minister of State Hugo Swire of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on July 4. In their meeting, the two ranking diplomats exchanged views on ways to intensify the Republic of Korea-United Kingdom comprehensive and creative partnership and agreed to continue close cooperation.

° In particular, the two sides reaffirmed their position that they will seek to minimize the impact of Brexit on the bilateral economic ties and continue solid coordination on the nuclear and human rights issues of North Korea.

2. Deputy Minister Kim also met with Director Robin Niblett of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and Director-General and Chief Executive John Chipman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and exchanged views with them on situations in the UK, the EU and other regions of the world in the wake of the UK decision to withdraw from the EU, as well as on ways to cope with them.

3. The first visit to the UK by the ROK’s high-level government official since the UK decided on June 23 to leave the EU is seen to have served as an opportunity for the ROK and UK governments to reaffirm their firm commitment to continue promoting their friendship and cooperation and to step up coordination on North Korean issues regardless of Brexit.


* unofficial translation