1. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon, together with Director-General for Political Affairs and Security Nicolas de Rivière of the French Foreign Ministry, held “the second Republic of Korea-France high-level meeting on ways to respond to the North Korean nuclear issue” in Seoul on December 5. In the meeting, the two senior diplomats shared with each other assessments of the situation regarding the North Korean nuclear issue and discussed in depth ways to work together in that regard.

2. The two sides expressed concern over the current situation where North Korea is advancing its nuclear and missile capability, as can be seen from the series of its provocations, including the sixth nuclear test in 2017 and the launch of a ballistic missile on November 29. The two sides, both recognizing the need for the international community to enforce tough sanctions and put pressure on the North in response to the issue, agreed to seek ways to ensure a thorough implementation of the relevant UN Security Council sanctions resolutions.

3. In addition, the two sides agreed to respond sternly to North Korea’s provocations and manage the situation in a stable manner, while consulting closely with related countries to seek ways to induce the North to denuclearization talks and thereby achieve a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. On that note, they agreed to continually and closely coordinate with each other in responding to the issue.

4. The ROK-France meeting is seen to have served as an opportunity for France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and one of the ROK’s major allies, to reaffirm its support for the ROK government’s policy toward North Korea, and for the ROK and France to further enhance their tight cooperative relations.


* unofficial translation