1. On February 12, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 52nd Munich Security Conference, and held in-depth discussions on ways for the UN Security Council to respond to North Korea’s provocations, including its fourth nuclear test and long-range missile launch.

2. The two Ministers agreed that North Korea’s flagrant and habitual violations of international norms, including its nuclear test and long-range missile launch, pose a serious threat to the situation in Northeast Asia, and that there should be measures commensurate with such behavior violating international law. They also shared the view that the international community needs to make sure that North Korea pays the price through a Security Council resolution on strong additional sanctions.

o The two Ministers agreed to strengthen communication through various channels to accelerate consultations on the adoption of a Security Council resolution against North Korea.

3. The two Ministers also exchanged views on the serious security threats faced by the ROK due to North Korea’s nuclear development and missile launch, and the situation in Northeast Asia regarding the threats.

4. In answering Minister Lavrov’s question on the situation regarding the ROK’s decision to halt all operations at the Gaesong Industrial Complex, Minister Yun said that it was a very difficult decision, which was made to join and encourage the international community’s efforts to impose effective sanctions on North Korea. Minister Yun explained related backgrounds and what the ROK expects from the measure.

5. The two Ministers assessed that the ROK-Russia relations developed in various areas last year, including the bilateral summit, and agreed to continue to strengthen high-level exchanges and mutually-beneficial cooperation between the two countries this year.

o They shared the view that the two countries have mutual interest in development cooperation in the Russian Far East, and agreed to strengthen efforts to accumulate success stories by finding out areas where the two countries can work together.

6. The latest ROK-Russia Foreign Ministers’ meeting served as an opportunity to closely coordinate the two countries’ positions on North Korea’s nuclear test and missile launch, as well as to strengthen momentum for the development of the ROK-Russia relations, which was created following the bilateral summit last year.


* unofficial translation