1. During her visit to Vietnam for the APEC Summit 2017, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters of New Zealand on November 11. In their meeting, the two top diplomats exchanged views on main matters of mutual concern, including the Republic of Korea-New Zealand relations, nuclear and other issues of North Korea, and ways to work together on regional and global stages.

2. The two Ministers positively noted that the ROK and New Zealand, best partners that share such basic values as democracy and human rights and are like-minded on global issues, have worked together in various areas, including political affairs, economy and people-to-people exchanges; and agreed to further step up substantive cooperation and work closely together on the international stage.

° In particular, the two Ministers noted with appreciation that the ROK-New Zealand FTA, after being brought into force, has contributed to the growth in bilateral trade, mainly of preferentially treated items under the FTA, as well as to the expansion of people-to-people exchanges, both of which, in turn, have helped continually advance the bilateral relations. The two top diplomats agreed to maintain close bilateral cooperation.

3. The two Ministers stressed that North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations will merely bring diplomatic isolation and economic pressure onto the North and that the international community needs to be united in thoroughly implementing the UN Security Council sanctions resolutions on the North. On that note, they agreed to continue close coordination to resolve the North Korean nuclear and missile issues.

° In particular, with regard to the North Korean nuclear and missile issues, Minister Kang extended appreciation to the government of New Zealand for its efforts to enforce UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea.

° In response, Minister Peters mentioned that New Zealand is taking an active part in the international efforts to resolve North Korean issues and, in particular, supports the ROK government’s efforts, and will remain attentive and cooperative in that regard.

4. The two Ministers, taking note of close ROK-New Zealand cooperation at such regional and global mechanisms as APEC and the East Asia Summit (EAS), agreed to further step up such cooperation.

5. The two Ministers extended invitations to each other to visit each other’s countries at appropriate times, voicing hope that the two countries will see their ties further develop through such high-level exchanges.


* unofficial translation