1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se attended the eighth MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Sydney, Australia, on November 25, in which the top diplomats exchanged views on various regional and global issues, including nonproliferation, immigration, peacekeeping operations, the refugee crisis, terrorism and policy innovation; and discussed ways for the member states of MIKTA to work together on humanitarian assistance and to tighten their solidarity.

2. The member states of MIKTA expressed concern over the growing uncertainty and complexity of late in the international community triggered by trade protectionism and the new isolationism; drew a common understanding that it is more imperative than ever to seek a stable international order; and agreed to expand MIKTA’s role in efforts to uphold multilateralism and the global order based on the UN Charter and other rules.

° Minister Yun, stressing that MIKTA should act as an agenda-setter, bridge-builder among various groups of nations, and rule-maker at the UN, the WTO and diverse other international mechanisms, proposed that MIKTA take a more active part especially in the G20.

° The MIKTA members, sharing the view that MIKTA can play a constructive role in efforts to cope with trade protectionism and strengthen the international trade order, discussed in depth ways that MIKTA can contribute in this regard in the G20.

3. With regard to North Korean issues, the MIKTA members expressed grave concerns over the increasing frequency of North Korea's provocations, including its nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, which also diminish resources for addressing the humanitarian needs of the North Korean people. They shared the view that North Korea’s repeated violations of UN Security Council resolutions undermine the international order based on the UN Charter and other rules, which is included in the joint communiqué, the outcome document of the meeting.

° The joint communiqué marks the first document stating that North Korea’s provocations undermine the rules-based international order.

° In the joint communiqué, MIKTA reaffirmed the concern expressed by the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee in its resolution on November 15 over the impact of the diversion of resources to nuclear and missile programs on the human rights situation of North Korean people, which had marked the first such expression. By doing so, MIKTA is seen to have helped raise international awareness of the fact that the North Korean nuclear issue is directly linked to the poor human rights situation of North Korean people.

4. The meeting also covered ways for the MIKTA members to work together in the humanitarian field and on consular affairs as well as to enhance diplomatic solidarity among them.

5. MIKTA, launched in 2013, has held two foreign ministerial meetings, two parliamentary speakers' meetings, and three G20 sherpas' meetings in 2016 alone. With their overseas diplomatic missions at the UN and in Geneva and other parts of the world also working closely together, the member states of MIKTA have paved the way for cooperation through consultations at various levels. The body has also been taking an active part in efforts to address not only the North Korean nuclear issue but also the full range of international issues, thereby establishing itself as a significant mechanism for the ROK’s middle power diplomacy.

6. The MIKTA members, agreeing to continue in 2017 to develop the mechanism under the leadership of Turkey, the then MIKTA chair, adopted a joint communiqué and held a joint press conference after the meeting.

※ The full text of the joint communiqué attached


* unofficial translation