1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with her Gambian counterpart Ousainou Darboe on September 23 on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, and discussed the international community’s efforts to offer assistance to the Gambia, and ways to increase cooperation between the ROK and the Gambia.

o The meeting was held in the presence of Permanent Representative of the ROK to the UN Cho Tae-yul and Permanent Representative of the Gambia to the UN Tangara.

2. Minister Kang said that the ROK will increase its support to the Gambia so that the country, which succeeded in peaceful regime change, can achieve economic development and stability and continue national development, adding that the ROK will also pay attention to the country, including through the activities as chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC).

o Minister Darboe expressed appreciation for the ROK’s support, and hoped that the ROK will share its experience with the Gambia to help with its efforts to promote development. He also expressed hope that the relations between the two countries will continue to develop.

3. Minister Kang strongly condemned the behavior of North Korea, which is threatening the peace and stability of the entire international community through the sixth nuclear test and launches of various ballistic missiles, and hoped that the Gambia will faithfully implement the new Security Council resolution on North Korea to help resolve the North Korean nuclear issue in a peaceful manner.

o Minister Darboe said that North Korea’s nuclear provocations are an issue that affects the security of the whole world, and that his country will actively support the ROK government’s efforts to solve the North Korean nuclear problem.

4. The meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries is seen to serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the friendly and cooperative relations between the ROK and the Gambia, which share pride in achieving democracy through people power and elections, as well as to strengthen cooperation to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.


* unofficial translation