1. US Secretary of State John Kerry called Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on December 30. In the phone conversation, Secretary Kerry said that the successful conclusion of the negotiations on the “comfort women” issue between the Republic of Korea and Japan is a very important historic accomplishment, and expressed congratulations on that. Secretary Kerry also applauded President Park Geun-hye for her courage and vision, which made the agreement possible.

o In his separate press statement, Secretary Kerry expressed hope that the agreement will be fully implemented and thereby help improve relations between the ROK and Japan and promote healing.

2. Minister Yun expressed appreciation to Secretary Kerry and National Security Advisor Rice for issuing statements welcoming the agreement, and took note that the US side especially stressed in the statements that the agreement’s full implementation is necessary.

o Minister Yun explained that despite many difficulties, the ROK side has consistently made efforts over the past two years to improve the ROK-Japan relations. In particular, Minister Yun said that President Park has led active diplomatic efforts, including making a breakthrough in efforts to resolve the “comfort women” issue through a summit meeting with Prime Minister Abe on November 2.

o Minister Yun also expressed appreciation to US leading figures for actively supporting the ROK’s position, together with the international community, mentioning that President Obama expressed a firm position on the “comfort women” issue during his visit to the ROK last year.

o Secretary Kerry said that he fully agrees with Minister Yun’s remarks that the agreement’s speedy and faithful implementation is necessary, and offered to continue to closely work together on related issues.

3. Minister Yun proposed that the ROK and the US continue to advance the strong bilateral alliance by steadily implementing the agreement reached at the ROK-US summit in October. In particular, Minister Yun offered to continue to explore measures to make progress on North Korea-related issues, including its nuclear issue, in accordance with the ROK-US joint statement on North Korea, agreed between the Presidents of the two countries.

o To that end, Minister Yun proposed that as the Foreign Ministers of the two countries had met eight times this year, the two sides continue close consultations and cooperation next year. Minister Yun also offered to meet in the near future, while taking advantage of scheduled multilateral meetings and considering the possibility of mutual visits.

o In response, Secretary Kerry offered to contact each other frequently when necessary and to coordinate specific schedules to meet in the near future.

4. In addition, Minister Yun conveyed congratulations to the US government and Secretary Kerry on attaining many historic achievements this year, including normalizing diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba, reaching the Iran nuclear deal, concluding the TPP negotiations, and reaching the Paris Agreement and launching the new climate regime at COP 21.

o Secretary Kerry said that this year was an important year not only for the US but for the entire international community, and expressed special appreciation to the ROK, a partner which has not spared active support in achieving many results.


*unofficial translation