1. Amb. Noh Kyu-duk, new Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, had his first telephone consultation with Mr. Stephen Biegun, Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea of the United States, on the evening of December 22.

° Special Representative Biegun congratulated Amb. Noh on his inauguration, reaffirmed that the U.S. remains committed to resuming U.S.-North Korea dialogue, and said that he will closely coordinate and cooperate with Amb. Noh on the policy toward North Korea.

° Amb. Noh expressed appreciation to Special Representative Biegun and took note of the positive messages that Special Representative Biegun had sent out during his visit to Korea from December 8 to 11, including his remarks at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies on December 10. He also suggested that Korea and the U.S. continue close communication and cooperation while managing the situation in a stable manner.

2. The two sides agreed to continue close coordination for further progress toward complete denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula based on the achievements and experiences accumulated so far.