1. During his visit to Vienna, Austria, to chair the second International Conference on Nuclear Security of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met bilaterally with Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz of Austria on December 5. In their meeting, the two top diplomats discussed the North Korean nuclear issue and ways to step up substantive cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Austria.

2. Minister Yun stressed that under the grave circumstance where North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests in 2016 alone, it is important for the international community to work together to thoroughly implement UN Security Council Resolution 2321, which had been adopted on November 30 and calls for tough, across-the- board measures. Minister Kurz, expressing deep concern over North Korea’s nuclear tests and missile provocations, shared the Minister’s view on the need for close international cooperation.

° Minister Yun extended appreciation to Austria for its robust cooperation with the international community in pressuring North Korea, including by issuing a statement strongly condemning the North; and asked a major member of the EU and leader in nuclear nonproliferation efforts to thoroughly implement the latest Security Council resolution on North Korea and play an active role in the lead-up to the EU’s adoption of tough unilateral sanctions against the North.

3. The two Ministers noted with appreciation that the ROK and Austria, set to mark the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2017, have seen a steady growth in substantive cooperation underpinned by their long-standing friendship. They agreed to work more closely together in various areas, including exchanges between high-level officials, businesses, cultural sectors and people.

4. The first ROK-Austria foreign ministerial meeting since Minister Yun’s appointment to the post is seen to have served as an opportunity to create momentum for increased high-level exchanges and substantive cooperation as well as to step up cooperation between the ROK and Austria, one of the ROK’s long-time allies and leader in nuclear nonproliferation efforts, in addressing the North Korean nuclear issue.


* unofficial translation