1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, who is on a visit to Washington for a foreign and defense ministerial (2+2) meeting between the Republic of Korea and the United States, met with former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and other Korean Peninsula experts as well as members of leading US think tanks on October 18. In the meeting, the two sides engaged in an extensive exchange of views on the ROK-US alliance, the North Korean nuclear issue and the situation in Northeast Asia.

2. Minister Yun noted with appreciation that the ROK-US alliance based on shared values and goals has developed over the past 60-odd years into a comprehensive strategic alliance that brings security, economic and other benefits to the peoples of the two countries. He asked the US to steadfastly support and pay attention to efforts to further advance the alliance.

° The Minister also pointed out that the ROK and the US are seeing their global partnership on regional and global issues deepen and their alliance continue evolving in new frontiers of cooperation.

3. Minister Yun noted that the ROK-US relations are at their best point and that the institutionalization of bilateral cooperation is smoothly under way under the current governments of the two countries, as can be seen from robust high-level consultations in diverse fields, including North Korean issues, nuclear energy and economy.

4. Minister Yun stressed that amid North Korea’s accelerated efforts to advance its nuclear and missile capabilities, including unprecedentedly frequent and powerful nuclear tests and launches of ballistic missiles, the gravity of North Korea’s nuclear threat and the urgency to address them with are ever-growing. The Minister added that under the current circumstances, North Korea must be subjected to tough across-the-board and comprehensive sanctions and strong pressure in order for Kim Jong-un to suffer unbearable pain and have no choice but to take the path toward denuclearization.

° The participants, expressing concern over the possibility of North Korea engaging in a stronger provocation around the time of the launch of the new governments in the ROK and the US, drew a common understanding that the international community, with a long-term perspective and patience, should further toughen sanctions and intensify pressure on North Korea.

5. Minister Yun mentioned that the ROK government is stepping up cooperation with the US and the international community to make North Korea’s human rights issue a topic for international discussions and to support the flow of information into North Korea in an effort to expedite not only the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue but also changes in the North.

6. The participants from the US are leading Korean Peninsula experts of the US who are expected to directly and indirectly offer advice to the incoming US administration on foreign policy. The meeting with them is seen to have helped win support on the strategic importance of and mutual benefits from the ROK-US alliance, and helped the US better understand the ROK’s foreign policy.


* unofficial translation