1. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Yoon Soon-gu held the 14th ROK-Poland policy consultation with Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Marek Magierowski in Seoul on October 18.

o The ROK government forged a strategic partnership with Poland in 2013, and has held deputy ministerial-level policy consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries on a regular basis.

2. In the 14th ROK-Poland policy consultation, the two sides shared their assessments of the relations between the two countries, and engaged in an extensive exchange of opinions on ways to enhance substantive cooperation between the two countries, and the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe.

3. Deputy Minister Yoon said that trade and investment between the two countries are having a positive impact on their cooperative relations, and asked for the Polish government’s interest and support for Korean companies making investments in Poland, including LG Chem. He also offered to further expand cooperation in the defense industry, such as a project to jointly manufacture self-propelled artillery (Krab).

o Deputy Minister Magierowski took note of Korean companies’ robust investments in Poland, and expressed hope that the two countries will increase cooperation in new technology and innovation, and Korean companies will participate in large-scale infrastructure projects in Poland, including new airport construction projects.

o Deputy Minister Magierowski said that the direct route between Seoul and Warsaw that opened last year is playing a big role in expanding people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and hoped that the number of direct flights will be further increased from the current five per week.

4. The ROK and Polish sides agreed to conclude an agreement on cultural and educational cooperation and an agreement on the working holiday program as early as possible, and further expand cooperation in sports between the two countries on the occasion of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

5. Deputy Minister Yoon explained the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula and the ROK’s North Korea policy. He also took note of the contributions of Poland, a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, to maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula, and hoped to see continued cooperation on North Korea.

o Deputy Minister Magierowski said that as a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, Poland has a keen interest in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. He especially said that as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2018-2019 term, Poland will closely work together with the ROK on the North Korean nuclear issue at the UN Security Council.

6. The policy consultation was an opportunity to review the progress in substantive cooperation in various areas between the ROK and Poland, which, as strategic partners, are important partners for each other in Asia and Europe, respectively, as well as the progress in the 2017-2020 Action Plan for the Implementation of the ROK-Poland Strategic Partnership. The policy consultation is also seen to serve as an opportunity to consult on the way forward for the bilateral cooperation and strengthen cooperation on the global stage by helping the two countries better understand each other’s foreign policy directions.


* unofficial translation