1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with former President Edwin Feulner of the Heritage Foundation on October 11 and exchanged views with him on the Republic of Korea-United States relations, the North Korean nuclear issue and the KORUS (Korea-US) FTA.

2. Minister Yun, calling the ROK-US coordination in the current, grave security situation close and in better shape than ever before, underscored the need to send a tough message to North Korea and to continuously strengthen the ROK-US alliance. He asked former President Feulner, who has contributed greatly to the development of the ROK-US relations, to make continuous efforts to beef up the bilateral alliance.

° Former President Feulner expressed confidence that regardless of the result of the US presidential election, the ROK-US alliance will remain in its best shape, adding that he will do his utmost for the bilateral alliance to further advance under the next US administration.

3. Minister Yun, warning against the possibility of North Korea’s pattern of provocation making people insensitive to its nuclear and missile threats, mentioned the need to continue strong, all-out efforts to pressure and deter the North within the “international community vs. North Korea” structure.

° Former President Feulner, expressing respect to the ROK government over its stern responses to the North Korean nuclear issue in the face of various challenges, called for pressuring North Korea in diverse ways, including under a stronger sanctions resolution of the UN.

4. The Minister and the former President fully shared the view that the KORUS FTA is bringing benefits to both countries, with the former commending the latter for his multiple efforts to raise positive awareness of the peoples of the two countries regarding the FTA.

5. The meeting between Minister Yun and former President Feulner, like the Minister’s meeting on October 10 with former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, came as part of the ROK’s diplomatic activities on the North Korean nuclear issue and its public diplomacy activities regarding the US presidential election. It is expected to help the ROK enhance its outreach to major opinion leaders in the Democratic and Republican Parties of the US.


* unofficial translation