1. Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Kim Hyoung-zhin, together with his counterparts from the member states of the Visegrad Group (V4) -- the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia -- will hold the third Republic of Korea-V4 meeting of deputy foreign ministers for political affairs at the ROK Foreign Ministry on June 14.

2. At the meeting, the two sides will review the progress in the cooperation projects agreed upon at the first-ever bilateral summit talks held in Prague in December 2015. They will also engage in an extensive exchange of views on the situations in such regions as the Korean Peninsula, Europe and the Middle East as well as global issues.

° In particular, the two sides will discuss ways to boost bilateral exchanges and cooperation, such as that on scientific and technological research, and cultural camps for their younger generations, as well as ways to coordinate on North Korea and its nuclear issue, including the EU’s unilateral sanctions on the country.

3. The cooperative ties between the ROK and the V4 have moved rapidly forward, as demonstrated by the fact that the bilateral summit talks came merely about one year after the first bilateral meeting of deputy foreign ministers for political affairs, which was held in June 2014. The forthcoming meeting of deputy foreign ministers for political affairs is expected to serve as an opportunity to enhance the friendship and cooperation between ROK and the V4, member states of the EU and NATO that have achieved successful regime changes. It will also serve as an opportunity for the ROK to solidify its foundation for middle power diplomacy on the regional and global levels.


* unofficial translation