1. Director-General for North Korean Nuclear Affairs Jeong Yeon-doo visited Moscow, the Russian Federation, on May 7, and had a meeting with Ambassador-at-Large Oleg Burmistrov of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in their capacity as deputy chief negotiators of the Republic of Korea and Russia on the North Korean nuclear issue.

o Following the aforementioned meeting, Director-General Jeong continued discussions at a luncheon hosted by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Igor Morgulov.

2. The ROK and Russian sides shared their assessments of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the outcome of the recent North Korea-Russia summit, and consulted on ways to move forward to resolve issues on the Korean Peninsula.

o The two sides reaffirmed their common goal of complete denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. Discussing the latest developments, the two sides also shared the view that it is important for the countries concerned to maintain the momentum of dialogue and to focus their efforts on resuming US-North Korea dialogue.

o In addition, the Russian side commended the ROK government’s efforts to make progress in inter-Korean relations, and expressed support for the ROK’s central role in issues on the Korean Peninsula.

3. In the meeting, which came after the meeting between the ROK and Russian chief negotiators on the North Korean nuclear issue in March (Mar. 19), the ROK-Russia Strategic Dialogue in April (Apr. 15), and Secretary of the Russian Security Council Patrushev’s visit to the ROK (Apr. 25), the two sides agreed to continue close communication and coordination at various levels on issues on the Korean Peninsula.

* unofficial translation