1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held a telephone conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters of New Zealand on May 14, during which the two top diplomats exchanged views on the outcome of the recent inter-Korean summit talks; an outlook on the forthcoming US-North Korea summit meeting; and ways to step up the Republic of Korea-New Zealand cooperation.

2. Minister Kang extended appreciation to the government of New Zealand for issuing a statement to hail the inter-Korean summit talks and the Panmunjeom Declaration, and explained main results of the inter-Korean meeting. 

° The Minister went on to stress that with the timing and the venue of the upcoming US-North Korea summit meeting finalized, it is necessary for the international community to render support and wish for its success.

3. Minister Peters reiterated congratulations to the ROK on the success of the inter-Korean summit talks; voiced hope that the forthcoming US-North Korea summit meeting will produce results conducive to the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue and the establishment of a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula; and spoke of New Zealand’s plan to continue playing a constructive role in that regard.

4. The two Ministers, taking note of the steady, close friendship and cooperation between the ROK and New Zealand across the board, including political affairs, economy and culture, agreed to double cooperation efforts.

* unofficial translation