1. On February 13 (local time), Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, who is on a visit to Munich to attend the 52nd Munich Security Conference, met with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry of Egypt, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The two sides discussed ways to work together in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test and long-range missile launch, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation between the ROK and Egypt.

2. The two Ministers shared the view that North Korea’s another provocation of a long-range missile launch amid the ongoing discussions on a UN Security Council sanctions resolution poses a direct challenge to the international community. They agreed to closely cooperate to make sure that a strong and effective UN Security Council sanctions resolution is adopted in a swift manner in response to North Korea’s such behavior.

o Minister Yun said that as North Korea has secretly pursued its nuclear weapons program by abusing the rights of states parties under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), and the North is the only country to have conducted as many as four nuclear tests, if the international community doesn’t take action on North Korea’s such behavior, the credibility of the NPT regime could be seriously undermined. Minister Yun expressed hope that Egypt, as a Security Council member which actively supports the global non-proliferation regime, including the NPT, will contribute to adopting a strongest-ever resolution against North Korea.

o Minister Shoukry expressed concern over the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia in the wake of a series of provocations by North Korea. He said that as the North Korean nuclear issue poses a big threat not only to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, but also to the NPT regime, Egypt will actively join the international community’s firm response.

o Minister Shoukry repeatedly told that Egypt, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, will provide maximum cooperation to ensure the adoption of a strong Security Council resolution, given Egypt’s principle of protecting the global non-proliferation regime, as well as the friendly and cooperative relations between the ROK and Egypt.

o The two Ministers shared the view that major countries around the world need to pursue various unilateral sanctions and measures to put pressure on North Korea, in addition to a UN Security Council resolution, so that the international community can show unity and firm determination.

3. Regarding bilateral cooperation between the ROK and Egypt, the two Ministers agreed to continue to expand and deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, including by facilitating high-level exchanges.


* unofficial translation