1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held a telephone conversation with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of the United States of America on August 25, during which the two top diplomats mainly discussed the background behind the postponement of Secretary Pompeo’s visit to North Korea and possible next steps.

° Secretary Pompeo explained in detail the background behind the postponement of his visit to North Korea, suggesting that the Republic of Korea and the United States jointly seek possible next steps in close coordination with each other.

° In response, Minister Kang expressed regret over the postponement of Secretary Pompeo’s visit to North Korea, on which the international community held high expectations. The Minister, citing the unswerving commitment of the ROK and the US to a thorough implementation of the measures agreed upon at the inter-Korean and US-North Korea summit talks, proposed that the ROK and the US, while maintaining the momentum of dialogue, continue efforts to achieve denuclearization and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

2. Minister Kang shared with Secretary Pompeo recent progress in the inter-Korean relations. Meanwhile, the Secretary, reaffirming the US government’s plan to maintain its firm coordination with the ROK, suggested that the two sides continue close consultations at various levels.

* unofficial translation