1. On the afternoon of January 17, Amb. Kim Gunn, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, held a consultation on the North Korean issue with his Japanese counterpart, Namazu Hiroyuki, Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who is on a visit to Seoul to attend an ROK-U.S.-Japan trilateral consultation on the North Korean issue.

2. The two sides condemned North Korea’s continued reckless rhetoric and actions since early this year that are escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, including the firing of artillery shells in the West Sea from January 5 to 7, the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) on January 14 in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and the announcement of its plan to amend the constitution to include the phrase, “A complete occupation of the ROK territory in the event of war.”

3. The two sides shared each other’s assessments on recent developments in Russia-North Korea relations, including North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui’s visit to Russia from January 15 to 17, and emphasized that Russia and North Korea must fully abide by UN Security Council resolutions and the relevant international law when conducting bilateral exchanges and cooperation, as Russia itself has claimed. They agreed that illicit military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including the latter’s transfer of ballistic missiles to the former, poses a serious threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. They agreed to continue leading together with the U.S. the resolute and united response of the international community against North Korea.

4. The two sides reaffirmed the resolute commitment of the international community not to tolerate North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons and agreed to further strengthen cooperation to block revenue sources that fund North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. In particular, they noted that the ROK’s autonomous sanctions, announced on January 17 to block North Korea’s procurement of petroleum products and other materials through illicit maritime activities as well as its illicit revenue generation, will be an effective measure that contributes to obstructing North Korea’s illegal activities. They also agreed that the ROK, the U.S, and Japan will lead the thorough implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions on North Korea and seek stronger coordination with other partner countries on the sanctions against North Korea.

5. The two sides urged North Korea to immediately cease its tension-escalating actions and reckless provocations and to return to the path of diplomacy to achieve a sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula. Moreover, they shared the view that North Korea’s nuclear and missile development is directly linked to its human rights issues, as it has been carried out at the expense of the livelihoods and human rights of North Korean residents. In that vein, they agreed to continue cooperation on North Korea’s humanitarian issues including those regarding abductees and the protection of North Korean escapees.