1. On the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met bilaterally with his Indonesian counterpart Retno L. P. Marsudi on September 22. In their meeting, the two top diplomats discussed the Republic of Korea-Indonesia relations; the nuclear and other issues of North Korea; ways to boost high-level exchanges as well as substantive cooperation in trade and investment; and ways to work together on regional and global stages.

2. The two Ministers shared a deep concern over the fact that North Korea, by conducting two nuclear tests and launching SLBMs and other types of ballistic missiles more frequently in 2016 than ever before, is advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities and thereby posing a threat to regional and global stability. They agreed to work more closely together at MIKTA and other international mechanisms to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue

° Minister Yun, citing Security Council Resolution 2270 condemning the North Korean nuclear program, voiced concern in his strongest terms ever over the North Korean nuclear development; and extended appreciation to the Indonesian government for its cooperation in the lead-up to the adoption of the MIKTA joint statement urging North Korea to comply with Security Council resolutions. Minister Retno stressed that North Korea must abide by Security Council resolutions.

3. The two Ministers, sharing the view that President Jokowi’s state visit to the ROK in May 2016 had contributed to the rapid advances in the bilateral relations, agreed to hold the first vice-minister-level strategic dialogue to review the progress in the follow-up on the bilateral summit talks.

° The two Ministers, taking note of the smooth progress of the bilateral cooperation on defense industry, including the KF-X/IF-X and submarine projects, agreed to thoroughly implement the measures agreed upon at the bilateral summit talks in close cooperation to increase two-way trade and investment.

4. Minister Yun mentioned that, in the second half of the year 2017, which marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN and “the year of the ROK-ASEAN cultural exchanges,” the ROK government will open “an ASEAN Culture House” in Busan in a follow-up on the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit. Minister Retno responded that Indonesia will cooperate actively in the event marking the opening of the ASEAN Culture House as well as its operation.

5. The two Ministers, taking note of close cooperation between their two countries at such regional and global mechanisms as the UN, MIKTA, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum, agreed to remain in close cooperation.


* unofficial translation