1. Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam met with Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Helga Schmid on March 26, and discussed ways to step up cooperation on North Korea and its nuclear issue, as well as cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the EU, which mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

2. The two sides took note that the ROK and the EU have been steadily developing their strategic partnership in a range of areas, and agreed to further strengthen substantial cooperation on bilateral, regional and global issues, with this year marking the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

3. Vice Minister Lim expressed appreciation for the EU’s interest and support to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully. The two sides agreed to continue close communications and cooperation in inducing North Korea to take the path towards denuclearization.

o Secretary General Schmid said that Minister Kang Kyung-wha’s participation in the EU Foreign Council meeting (March 19) was an important opportunity to help the EU and its 28 members better understand the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, and to discuss ways the ROK and the EU can work together. She also stressed that the EU is ready to play necessary roles and make contributions, including sharing its experience of negotiating the Iran nuclear deal and related know-how, in order to solve the North Korean nuclear problem peacefully and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

4. The meeting, which was part of discussions to follow up on Minister Kang’s participation in the EU Foreign Council meeting, served as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully, as well as the ROK’s cooperation with the EU on bilateral and multilateral issues.

* unofficial translation