1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov for about 25 minutes on January 13. They exchanged their assessments of the current situation in the aftermath of North Korea’s fourth nuclear test, and had an extensive discussion on ways to cooperate on the adoption of a new Security Council resolution and the ensuing follow-up measures.

2. Minister Yun Byung-se recalled that around 70 countries, including the Republic of Korea and Russia, have strongly condemned the fourth nuclear test conducted by North Korea at this time when a new quarter century in the ROK-Russia relations starts, and highlighted the seriousness of the current situation, as addressed by President Park Geun-hye in her special address to the nation, as well as the need for the international community’s strong response. Minister Yun also pointed out that North Korea’s such provocation is not only a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions and the September 19 Joint Statement, but also a direct challenge to the agreement reached between the leaders of the ROK and Russia on no tolerance for North Korea’s nuclear weapons.

o Minister Yun emphasized that in the current situation where the North Korean leader is completely ignoring the international community’s demands, including by expressing his willingness to further strengthen its nuclear weapons development in quality and quantity even after the latest nuclear test, it is necessary to make North Korea face severe consequences commensurate to its recent act and to prevent North Korea from engaging in further provocations by helping the Security Council promptly adopt a strong Security Council resolution through close cooperation between the ROK and Russia.

o Minister Yun said that considering that the Russian side has shown leadership in international efforts to deter nuclear development and proliferation, he hoped that Russia’s principle and position of no tolerance for North Korea’s nuclear weapons is also fully reflected in the discussion process at the Security Council. Minister Yun also stressed that this time, the Security Council’s response should be much stronger than in the past.

3. Minister Lavrov agreed on Minister Yun’s assessment that the latest nuclear test by North Korea is a flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions, as well as the seriousness of the issue, and said that Russia will actively participate in the discussion process at the Security Council, while closely consulting with concerned countries, including the ROK, under the framework of no tolerance for North Korea’s nuclear weapons and maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

o Minister Lavrov expressed hope that in response to the latest nuclear test by North Korea, the Security Council will take corresponding measures for the North Korean provocation, and that tensions will not rise further in the process of handling the issue.

4. The two Ministers agreed to work closely together in the future on the North Korean nuclear issue, and hold a more in-depth discussion on specifics in the meeting of the chief negotiators of the two countries for the Six-Party Talks, to be held on January 19. They also agreed to pursue consultations between the permanent missions of the two countries to the UN.

o The two sides also agreed to discuss issues between the two countries, mainly North Korea and its nuclear issue, as well as the way forward for the bilateral relations during Minister Yun’s visit to Russia at the earliest possible date.


*unofficial translation