1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with former national security advisor of India Shivshankar Menon on July 4, and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the ROK-India relations.

2. Minister Kang said that North Korea’s continued provocations, including its ballistic missile launch today, are posing a serious threat not only to the Korean Peninsula, but also to the global order, and explained that the ROK government, in close cooperation with allies, neighboring countries, and the UN Security Council, will seek to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully.

3. Taking note of the prosperity that the ROK has achieved in the uncertain security situation, former national security advisor Menon welcomed the ROK’s leading role in addressing regional and global issues, and said that there is great potential for cooperation between the ROK and India on the issues.

o In response, Minister Kang explained that the new ROK government is looking into ways to further enhance connectivity with ASEAN and India beyond Northeast Asia, and expressed hope that the ROK and India will further increase strategic cooperation in politics and security.

4. The meeting today, held as part of efforts to go beyond the ROK’s longstanding diplomacy revolving around four major powers, is expected to serve as an opportunity for the ROK to obtain support of India’s highest-level opinion leaders on the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue and the development of the ROK-India strategic relations.


* unofficial translation