1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha spoke over the phone with her US counterpart Mike Pompeo on May 16 at the request of the US Secretary of State, and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including North Korea’s notification of the postponement of high-level inter-Korean talks.

2. Minister Kang explained the ROK’s position on the notification from the North Korean side, and said that the ROK government is firmly determined to continue to faithfully implement the Panmunjeom Declaration, and will urge North Korea to come forward for talks as early as possible for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.

o Secretary Pompeo expressed appreciation for Minister Kang’s explanations, and said that the US side will continue to prepare for the US-North Korea summit, keeping the North Korean action in mind.

3. The Minister and the Secretary agreed to continue close collaboration between the ROK and the US to make a success of the US-North Korea summit based on the accomplishments of the inter-Korean summit on April 27, and thereby achieve complete denuclearization and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

4. Today’s telephone conversation between the Minister and the Secretary came after their meeting on May 11. They agreed to contact each other frequently whenever necessary and communicate closely to ensure collaboration between the diplomatic authorities of the two sides.

* unofficial translation