1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha talked to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia over the phone on July 3.

2. Minister Lavrov, extending congratulations to Minister Kang on taking office, voiced hope for more high-level exchanges between the Republic of Korea and Russia. He added that he was looking forward to the bilateral summit talks to come on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg later in the week as well as President Moon Jae-in’s attendance at the third Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 6 and 7.

° Minister Kang, highlighting the new ROK government’s commitment to move its strategic partnership with Russia substantively forward, suggested that the two countries work closely together to advance their ties across the board.

° The two top diplomats, taking note of the outcome of the second Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Parliaments co-hosted by the ROK National Assembly and the lower legislative house of the Russian Federation in Seoul in June, expressed satisfaction with the active cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries.

3. Minister Kang pointed out that amid the growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, it is more important now than ever that the international community work together to deter the North from launching any further provocations and to induce it to denuclearization talks. On that note, she expressed hope that Russia will cooperate actively with the ROK on the latter’s efforts to achieve the denuclearization of North Korea and build peace on the Korean Peninsula; and suggested that the ROK and Russia step up strategic communication and coordination on all levels with regard to the North Korean nuclear issue.

° Minister Lavrov noted with appreciation the new ROK government’s active, leading role, including through sanctions, dialogue and all other means, in the efforts to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. He went on to say that Russia, on its part, will step up coordination with the ROK on the issue.

4. Minister Lavrov asked Minister Kang to visit Russia at an early date for more in-depth discussions. The two top diplomats agreed to meet with each other on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg and on diverse other occasions for close consultations on bilateral issues.


* unofficial translation