1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, who is on a visit to Vladivostok, Russia, to attend the third Eastern Economic Forum (September 6-7), met with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono on September 7. They discussed preparations for the ROK-Japan summit meeting, to be held subsequently, and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including North Korea and its nuclear issue.

2. The two Ministers agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation between the ROK and Japan, and among the ROK, the US and Japan to respond strongly and firmly to North Korea’s irresponsible and reckless behavior in the security situation which has become graver in the wake of North Korea’s repeated missile launches and sixth nuclear test.

o They agreed to continue to work together to ensure the faithful implementation of existing Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea, and to adopt a new resolution containing strong sanctions. They agreed on the importance of the leading roles of China and Russia in doing so, and agreed to continue strategic communications with China and Russia in order to make progress in denuclearizing North Korea.

o The two Ministers also reaffirmed that in the current situation where the North is continuing its nuclear weapons development, what is more important than anything else is close cooperation among the ROK, the US and Japan.

3. In addition, they reaffirmed their common understanding that the North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved through dialogue in a peaceful manner in the end, as now is the time for the international community to increase sanctions and pressure in response to North Korea’s serious provocations, including its sixth nuclear test, and the ultimate goal of the increase in sanctions and pressure on the North is to bring North Korea to dialogue over denuclearization.

4. The two Ministers took note that the ROK-Japan summit meeting came about two months after the one on the sidelines of the G20 summit, and agreed to strengthen communications at various levels, including such high-level exchanges, and enhance substantive cooperation in a range of areas, including economic and people-to-people exchanges.

o Minister Kang expressed hope that the 20th anniversary of the "Joint Declaration on a New ROK-Japan Partnership for the 21st Century” next year will help the two countries take their relations one step further.

5. In their meeting, the two Ministers engaged in serious and detailed discussions, and agreed to continue close consultations on various occasions, including the UN General Assembly.


* unofficial translation