1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha talked to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson of the US on July 27, during which the two top diplomats exchanged views on bilateral issues and other matters of mutual concern, including ways to follow up on the recent summit talks between the Republic of Korea and the United States as well as the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.

2. The Minister and the Secretary noted with appreciation that the latest bilateral summit talks not only had helped build friendship and trust between the two Presidents but also had significantly paved the way for close policy coordination between the two countries; and agreed to seek substantial progress in the implementation of the follow-up measures.

3. In addition, the two sides shared with each other their respective assessments of the current security situation on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of the ballistic missile launch by North Korea on July 4; discussed ways to deter the North from launching any further provocations and to induce it to denuclearization, including having the UN Security Council adopt the new resolution it is currently working on; and agreed to continue policy coordination and collaboration in that regard.

4. The telephone conversation between the Minister and the Secretary on July 27 came as part of high-level consultations between the ROK and the US, which have been intensifying since the latest bilateral summit talks. In the telephone conversation, the two sides agreed to carry out close, strategic communication with each other on various occasions.


* unofficial translation