1. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Kim Hong-kyun, together with Special Representative for North Korea Policy Sung Kim of the US Department of State, held a Republic of Korea-United States meeting of the head delegates to the Six-Party Talks in Hawaii on July 15. Special Representative Sung Kim was on a visit to Hawaii to attend an ROK-US-Japan vice foreign ministerial meeting. In their meeting, the ROK and US head delegates to the Six-Party Talks discussed in detail and in depth the full range of North Korean issues, including its nuclear program, to follow up on the trilateral vice foreign ministerial meeting held the day before.

2. The two sides shared with each other their assessments of North Korea’s serial provocations, including the launch of Musudan missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and threats, as well as the current, overall situation on the Korean Peninsula.

° The two sides agreed to strengthen deterrence against North Korea by drawing upon the steadfast combined defense posture and to continue coordination with each other and the international community in order to take tougher measures in response to any additional provocations from North Korea.

3. The two sides agreed to continue close cooperation in toughening sanctions against and intensifying pressure on North Korea in a systemic, comprehensive and continuous manner, including by thoroughly implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2270, and thereby create a circumstance where North Korea cannot but change for the better. They also discussed in depth ways to step up collaboration of the international community on North Korean issues in the second half of the year.

4. The two sides reaffirmed that the denuclearization of North Korea is a shared goal among the ROK, the US, relevant countries and the international community as a whole. They agreed to work more closely with relevant countries in order to induce, through sanctions and pressure, North Korea to the path toward denuclearization.


* unofficial translation