1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul had his first telephone conversation with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko on the afternoon of January 23, 2024, and the two sides discussed Korea-Japan relations as well as regional and global issues.

2. Foreign Minister Kamikawa sincerely congratulated Foreign Minister Cho on his inauguration and expressed gratitude for the Korean government's humanitarian assistance for recovery from the Ishikawa earthquake damage.

3. Foreign Minister Cho expressed his gratitude to Foreign Minister Kamikawa for her congratulations on his inauguration and once again expressed condolences for the damage caused by the Ishikawa earthquake. The two Foreign Ministers appreciated that Korea and Japan have restored trust and normalized their relations through close communication, including seven summits and six foreign ministerial meetings last year. The two Foreign Ministers agreed that it is important to continue to cooperate based on their trust in order to strengthen the trend of improving bilateral relations.

4. The two Foreign Ministers expressed concern over North Korea escalating regional tensions with its belligerent rhetoric and provocations as well as its continued illegal military cooperation with Russia. The two Foreign Ministers called for close cooperation between Korea and Japan and among Korea, the U.S. and Japan to lead a firm and unified response from the international community.

5. Additionally, the two Foreign Ministers agreed that the need for cooperation between the two countries on regional and global issues is increasing amid the grave international situation. In addition, the two Foreign Ministers noted with appreciation the high-level institutionalization of trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S. and Japan agreed upon at the Camp David summit last year, and decided to continue strengthening the momentum of trilateral cooperation on the international stage including the United Nations, as the three countries are all serving as members of the UN Security Council this year.