1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha received a courtesy call from United States Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun on February 9, and was briefed on the results of the Special Representative’s visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The two sides assessed the current situation, and discussed possible next steps, including plans for the second US-North Korea summit.

o Minister Kang took note of Special Representative Biegun’s efforts to achieve complete denuclearization and to establish a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, including the last US-North Korea high-level talks, the meeting between the ROK, North Korean and US top negotiators on the North Korean nuclear issue in Stockholm, and his latest visit to North Korea. Minister Kang also expressed hope that the second US-North Korea summit will be held successfully through follow-up negotiations between the US and North Korea.

- In particular, Minister Kang said that today was a meaningful day marking the first anniversary of the opening of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, which facilitated the resumption of dialogues on the Korean Peninsula last year. She also offered to continue to pursue closer collaboration between the ROK and the US to establish a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula by advancing inter-Korean and US-North Korea relations in a virtuous manner.

o Special Representative Biegun explained the results of his visit to North Korea, and took note that the dialogues so far had been held within the framework of firm collaboration between the ROK and the US through coordination, including prior and follow-up consultations between the ROK and the US. He also expressed appreciation to President Moon Jae-in and the ROK government for their active roles in facilitating US-North Korea dialogues.

2. Minister Kang offered to continue to make progress through further coordination at each level between the ROK and the US based on the results of Special Representative Biegun’s visit to North Korea. The Special Representative said that the US would continue to consult more closely with the ROK during the process of negotiations to implement the agreement reached in Singapore and build more trust between the US and North Korea.

* unofficial translation