1. On June 14, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held a luncheon meeting with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono, who is on a visit to the Republic of Korea, and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including issues on the Korean Peninsula, and ways to advance the ROK-Japan relations.

2. The two Ministers shared their assessments of the results of the US-North Korea summit held in Singapore on June 12, and agreed to continue cooperation between the ROK and Japan to make substantial progress in achieving complete denuclearization and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula, building upon the results of the two inter-Korean summits and the latest US-North Korea summit.

o Minister Kang said that the US-North Korea summit was an important milestone in efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula, and offered to continue close communications and cooperation between the ROK and Japan in order to make sure that the accomplishment leads to substantial progress.

o Minister Kono took note of the efforts of President Moon and the ROK side in improving the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including holding the US-North Korea summit, and offered to further strengthen close collaboration between the ROK and Japan, as the first step was taken towards solving the North Korean nuclear problem, and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.

3. The two Ministers reaffirmed their countries’ shared willingness to turn the 20th anniversary of the “Joint Declaration on a New ROK-Japan Partnership towards the 21st Century (so-called Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Joint Declaration)” in October this year into a new engine for the development of the ROK-Japan relations.

o The two Ministers agreed to continue to strengthen strategic communications and exchanges on multiple levels between the two countries to that end.

- Minister Kono invited President Moon Jae-in and Minister Kang to visit Japan, and Minister Kang offered to continue consultations between the diplomatic authorities of the two countries on high-level exchanges.

o In particular, Minister Kang explained the ROK government’s efforts regarding the 20th anniversary of the “Joint Declaration on a New ROK-Japan Partnership towards the 21st Century,” including the launch of a task force to increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the ROK and Japan (May 28). Minister Kono took note of the ROK’s such efforts, and talked about what preparations the Japanese side is making and what related issues it is reviewing.

o In addition, Minister Kang expressed hope that the ROK and Japan will conclude their fishery negotiations as early as possible, and Minister Kono said that his country will continue working-level discussions on the issue.

4. The two Ministers agreed to continue to discuss in detail issues regarding the 20th anniversary of the “Joint Declaration on a New ROK-Japan Partnership towards the 21st Century,” including the issues mentioned above.

5. In the ROK-Japan Foreign Ministers’ meeting, held immediately after the US-North Korea summit on June 12, an important milestone in efforts to promote peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, the two Ministers reaffirmed their relations of trust, which have been established through frequent communications and exchanges, and strengthened strategic communications between the ROK and Japan on issues on the Korean Peninsula.

o The meeting also served as a useful opportunity to review preparations being made by the two countries, marking the 20th anniversary of the “Joint Declaration on a New ROK-Japan Partnership towards the 21st Century,” and to discuss concrete ways to advance the ROK-Japan relations.

* unofficial translation