1. On the occasion of the High-Level Segment of the UN Human Rights Council, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Ireland Simon Coveney on February 25. In the meeting, they reviewed measures to follow up on Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon’s visit to Ireland last year, and discussed the current situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe.

2. The two Ministers shared the view that Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon’s visit to Ireland in May 2018, which marked the first of its kind by a Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea in 28 years, served as an opportunity to take the ROK-Ireland relations to a higher level, and agreed to step up mutually-beneficial cooperation, building upon the two countries’ historical and economic similarities.

o Especially, Minister Kang took note that after the Prime Minister’s visit to Ireland, young Korean chefs have been building presence in Ireland, and hoped that more young Korean chefs would build their presence in the country.

3. Minister Kang explained the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, and the ROK government’s efforts to achieve complete denuclearization and to establish a lasting peace regime. She also expected the second United States-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea summit to become an important opportunity to make meaningful progress in the efforts, and asked for continued support and cooperation from Ireland, which has experience in peace-building.

o Foreign Minister Coveney reaffirmed Ireland’s full support and cooperation regarding the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

4. In addition, the two sides exchanged views on the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit), and agreed to closely work together to continue to expand trade relations between the two countries even after Brexit.

5. The ROK-Ireland Foreign Ministers’ meeting served as an opportunity to discuss ways to increase future-oriented cooperation between the two countries, and to reaffirm the Irish side’s unchanging support for the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula.

* unofficial translation