1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan on February 1 and discussed with him ways for the UN Security Council to respond to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test and the possibility of North Korea’s additional provocations, including launching a long-range missile.

2. Ministers Yun and Kishida agreed to intensify consultations between the Republic of Korea and Japan, including through their missions to the UN, in order for the UN Security Council to adopt a strong and effective sanctions resolution.

◦ In addition to the efforts for the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution, the two sides agreed to actively seek various sanctions and ways to pressure North Korea at the bilateral and international levels. They also agreed to continue joint efforts for such measures to work in a mutually complementary manner.

3. With regard to the possibility of North Korea’s further provocations, including launching a long-range missile, Ministers Yun and Kishida agreed to seek necessary countermeasures in close communication with the countries involved, including the ROK, the US and Japan.

4. Minister Kishida commended as a positive suggestion the ROK government’s initiative to hold five-party talks within the framework of the Six-Party Talks. In this respect, the two sides agreed to consult closely with each other through various relevant channels.

◦ The two sides also voiced hope for closer consultations between the two countries as well as among them and the US on security issues, including North Korea and its nuclear issue.

5. In the wake of North Korea’s nuclear test on January 6, the leaders of the two countries held a telephone conversation. The telephone conversation between the two Foreign Ministers on February 1 marked the second of its kind on possible responses to North Korea’s nuclear test.

◦ Minister Yun, bringing renewed attention to the content of the telephone conversation between the leaders of the two countries on January 7, underscored the importance of thoroughly implementing the bilateral agreement on the “comfort women” issue.


* unofficial translation