1. During his visit to New York to attend the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met bilaterally with his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin at the UN headquarters on September 19. In their meeting, the two top diplomats extensively discussed the North Korean nuclear issue and ways to promote the Republic of Korea-Ukraine relations.

2. Minister Yun extended appreciation to Ukraine, a country that had voluntarily surrendered its nuclear capability and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, for taking an active part in the international efforts to pressure North Korea, including by cooperating in the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2270 in the wake of North Korea’s fifth nuclear test and in its implementation.

° Minister Yun asked the Ukrainian government to continue rendering cooperation for a swift adoption of a tough Security Council resolution and its strict and thorough implementation in response to North Korea’s fifth nuclear test.

° Minister Klimkin stated that Ukraine will cooperate actively in swiftly drawing up strong, joint measures against North Korea’s repeated provocations, reaffirming support for the ROK government’s efforts for peace, stability and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

3. The two Ministers exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and ways to work together on the international stage. Minister Klimkin, explaining the recent developments in the situation in Ukraine, asked for the ROK government’s understanding and support.

4. The ROK-Ukraine foreign ministerial meeting, the third of its kind in the past two years, is seen to have served as an opportunity to step up coordination with Ukraine, a country that had voluntarily surrendered nuclear capability and non-permanent member of Security Council, in responding to North Korea’s fifth nuclear test and to promote the friendship and cooperation between the ROK and Ukraine, which will mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2017.


* unofficial translation