1. Vice Minister Lim Sung-nam met with Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom Mark Field on November 24, and exchanged views on the ROK-UK relations; the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games; trade, investment and nuclear energy cooperation; consular cooperation; and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

2. The two sides took note that robust cooperation between the two countries is underway in a range of areas, including foreign affairs, economic and trade affairs, finance, culture, nuclear energy, national defense, and the defense industry. They agreed to further strengthen not only the bilateral relations, but cooperation on regional and global issues through the fourth ROK-UK foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue, to be held in Seoul next year.

o The two sides agreed to continue close consultations to make sure that trade and investment between the two countries will continue to grow without being affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. They also agreed to continue to expand cooperation in the nuclear energy industry, as the ROK and the UK have strengths in the construction of nuclear power plants and the decommissioning of nuclear power plants, respectively.

o Regarding the search for the missing crew members of Stellar Daisy, Vice Minister Lim expressed deep appreciation to the UK government for lending support to the search efforts, and offered to continue cooperation.

3. The two sides agreed to work together to ensure that Princess Anne (member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC))’s visit to the ROK during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will help further advance the ROK-UK relations.

o Vice Minister Lim asked for the UK side’s keen interest and support to make the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games a peace festival, and expressed hope that many British people will visit the ROK.

o Minister of State Field said that the UK will help the ROK successfully host the PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, drawing upon their experience of hosting the London 2012 Summer Olympics.

4. Vice Minister Lim said that the ROK government is working to induce North Korea to take the path towards negotiations over denuclearization through the international community’s united efforts to impose sanctions and pressure on the North. Minister of State Field agreed on the need to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully, and said that the UK will continue to closely work together with the ROK government.

5. The meeting between the Vice Minister and the Minister of State, which marks the third of the year following their visits to each other’s countries, is seen to serve as an opportunity to reaffirm close cooperation between the two countries.


* unofficial translation