1. On the morning of January 18, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Kim Gunn held a consultation on North Korean issue with his U.S. counterpart, Senior Official for the DPRK Dr. Jung Pak, who is on a visit to Seoul to attend ROK-U.S.-Japan trilateral consultation on North Korean issue.

2. The two sides condemned North Korea’s hostile rhetoric and actions that are escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and its continued provocations, such as the firing of artillery shells in the West Sea and the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) on January 14, after North Korea declared that the South and the North are “two belligerent states” at the end of last year.

3. The two sides pointed out that the fundamental cause of the increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region is on North Korea’s refusal of all the calls for dialogue and its continued pursuit of unlawful nuclear and missile development and provocations. They agreed to resolutely respond to any provocations and threats by North Korea and firmly safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula based on the robust ROK-U.S. alliance.

4. The two sides commended the recent stern warnings by the international community against Russia and North Korea's illicit military cooperation, including through ROK-U.S. Foreign Minister’s telephone conference on January 11, and the Joint Statement by Foreign Ministers from 50 countries and the EU on January 4 regarding North Korea’s ballistic missile transfer to Russia. They agreed to coordinate with the international community to resolutely respond against the illicit cooperation between Russia and North Korea, which poses a grave threat to security on the Korean Peninsula and in the world. In this regard, they shared their assessments of recent Russia-North Korea relations including North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui’s visit to Russia, and agreed to closely consult on our response.

5. The two sides agreed to step up comprehensive efforts to dissuade North Korea’s nuclear and missile developments, based on the international community’s solid commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. They agreed to continue exploring practical measures to block North Korea’s key revenue streams, including malicious cyber activities, dispatch of overseas workers, and ship-to-ship transfers.

6. The U.S. side expressed its firm support for the ROK’s efforts to build a tighter sanctions network to block North Korea’s illicit maritime activities through autonomous sanctions against North Korea on January 17. The two sides agreed to continue to cooperate to secure the full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions by the international community, while further strengthening coordination on autonomous sanctions among like-minded countries.

7. The two sides urged North Korea to immediately cease its rhetoric and actions intended to create tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and reckless nuclear and missile development and provocations, and to immediately return to the path of denuclearization through diplomacy. Moreover, they agreed to further strengthen cooperation with the international community to promote and raise awareness of the human rights situation in North Korea, and to protect North Korean escapees abroad.