1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyugn-wha began her visit to Canada to attend the “Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Security and Stability on the Korean Peninsula” with a bilateral meeting on January 15 with Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland of Canada, which co-hosts the Meeting, and coordinated their efforts to ensure the success of the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in advance.

2. First, Minister Kang expressed hope that as the meeting takes place at a very important time, it will serve as a good opportunity to send the international community’s united message not only to improve inter-Korean relations, but to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully, and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. She also spoke highly of the constructive roles that Canada, the host of the meeting, has shown in preparing for the meeting.

o Minister Kang shared the outcome of the high-level inter-Korean talks and other related situations, and said that the ROK is maintaining a very balanced position that an improvement in inter-Korean relations and the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue should go together. She also said that the ROK will continue to closely cooperate with the international community, including Canada.

3. Minister Freeland said that not only the international community but countries concerned must be watching closely the results of the meeting, and stressed that Canada actively supports the ROK’s position on the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue through peaceful and diplomatic means. Minister Freeland also said that the meeting will serve as an opportunity to highlight her country’s solidarity with the ROK.

4. Minister Kang took note that Canada is actively contributing to increasing people’s interest in the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, including by holding the Imjin Classic Recreation event (January 19, Paju) to mark the Winter Olympics. Minister Freeland said that Canada has a lot of interest in winter sports, and will continue to take an active interest in the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games and work to ensure the success of the Olympics.

* unofficial translation