1. Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam held the ROK-US vice foreign ministerial strategic dialogue with US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan on October 18, and engaged in in-depth discussions on key issues, including preparations for US President Trump’s state visit to the ROK in November, cooperation on North Korea policy, and ways to advance the ROK-US alliance.

2. Vice Minister Lim said that the ROK welcomes President Trump, the first US President to make a state visit to the ROK in 25 years, and will treat him with great courtesy. The Vice Minister said that the ROK and the US need to continue to put their best efforts into preparing for the visit so that they can make the best success of the visit, expected to further strengthen the ROK-US alliance, in various areas, including discussions between the leaders of the two countries, achievements, schedule and protocol.

o Deputy Secretary Sullivan said that as demonstrated by a series of visits to the ROK by senior US officials, including Vice President Pence, Secretary of State Tillerson, and Secretary of Defense Mattis, the ROK-US alliance and the US commitment to the defense of the ROK remain strong. The Deputy Secretary said that as the US is also placing the highest priority on President Trump’s visit to the ROK and other Asian countries, the US will exert its best efforts to make the President’s visit to the ROK a success.

3. The Vice Minister and the Deputy Secretary reaffirmed the two countries’ shared position that they will resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through peaceful and diplomatic means, assessed the current situation regarding the North Korean nuclear issue, and had in-depth discussions on ways to enhance cooperation between the ROK and the US.

o Deputy Secretary Sullivan said that as Secretary of State Tillerson had made it clear through the “4 Nos” principle, the US is giving top priority to diplomatic solution in addressing the North Korean nuclear issue, and that his visit to the ROK has been arranged as part of it.

o Deputy Secretary Sullivan said that the US is well aware that close cooperation with its ally, the ROK, is essential to achieve the two countries’ common goal of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In this regard, the two sides agreed to continue to closely work together on any North Korea policy or measures.

4. The two sides said that the ROK-US vice foreign ministerial strategic dialogue served as an opportunity to hold useful discussions on major bilateral issues and other issues of mutual interest, and to further strengthen policy cooperation, and agreed to continue robust consultations between the two countries’ high-level officials.


* unofficial translation