1. On September 27, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha attended the MIKTA (the United Mexican States, the Republic of Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Turkey, and the Commonwealth of Australia) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in New York on the occasion of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.

※ Heads of delegations of the other four countries: (Indonesia) Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, (Mexico) Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray, (Australia) Foreign Minister Maris Payne, and (Turkey) Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu

※ MIKTA is a consultative mechanism among five middle-power countries -- Mexico, Indonesia (this year’s chair), the ROK, Turkey, and Australia. It was launched on the occasion of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2013.

2. The participants in the MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting exchanged constructive views on the emerging regional and global issues, including the current situation on the Korean Peninsula; international trade disputes, and the future of international trade; transboundary crime, and counter-terrorism; the situation in Idlib, a province bordering Turkey; and the exodus of migrants from Venezuela, and the situation in Latin America.

o Minister Kang Kyung-wha explained the results of the third inter-Korean summit, held from September 18 to 20, and stressed that the ROK would continue to work to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. She also asked for cooperation and support from the international community, including the member states of MIKTA. The foreign ministers of the other countries took note of the progress in the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the outcome of the third inter-Korean summit, and expressed support for the ROK government’s related efforts.

※ The MIKTA member states adopted their foreign ministers’ joint statement on issues on the Korean Peninsula twice this year.

- statement to extend congratulations on the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, and to welcome the progress in the situation on the Korean Peninsula (adopted on March 18) / statement to extend congratulations on the success of the 2018 inter-Korean summit (April 30)

o Regarding international trade disputes, the participants hoped that the free and fair global trade order based on the multilateral trading system would be restored as soon as possible.

3. In addition, the participants welcomed the adoption of a joint statement on MIKTA’s fifth anniversary, and noted that since its creation in September 2013, MIKTA had been increasing substantive cooperation in a range of areas, making more contributions to global issues. They also agreed to continue to closely consult on ways to further develop MIKTA.

* unofficial translation