1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha spoke by phone with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini for about 15 minutes on September 3, and assessed the situation regarding North Korea’s sixth nuclear test and discussed ways to respond to it.

2. Minister Kang said that North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test following the launch of the ballistic missile that flew over Japan despite the repeated messages from the ROK and the US urging the North to refrain from additional provocation and return to dialogue, and that such action by North Korea cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. She explained that the ROK government is deeply disappointed and strongly condemns it. In addition, Minister Kang offered to pursue close cooperation between the ROK and the EU in the process of taking measures, including the adoption of a new Security Council resolution containing strong sanctions in response to the North’s sixth nuclear test.

3. High Representative Mogherini stressed that the EU strongly condemns North Korea’s sixth nuclear test, and expressed deep concern over the worsening tensions on the Korean Peninsula. She also fully agreed on the importance of increasing sanctions and pressure on North Korea under the current circumstances, and said that the EU will continue its unilateral sanctions on the North, while faithfully implementing relevant Security Council resolutions.

o High Representative Mogherini said that the EU will hold its foreign ministers’ meeting next week and engage in in-depth discussions on ways for the EU to respond to North Korea’s sixth nuclear test, adding that the EU will continue close coordination with the ROK government.

4. The two sides shared the view that while adhering to the common goal of achieving the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization (CVID) of North Korea in a peaceful manner, the ROK and the EU need to induce the North to change its behavior through the international community’s united and strong response. To that end, the two sides agreed to continue close strategic communications at each level.


* unofficial translation