1. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon, together with Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun of the US Department of State, held a Republic of Korea-United States meeting of the head delegates to the Six-Party Talks on November 17.

※ The meeting came on the sidelines of the ROK-UN Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-proliferation Issues under way in Jeju on November 16 and 17, which both the ROK and US head delegates to the Six-Party Talks attended.

2. The two top delegates, taking note of the outcome of the ROK-US summit talks on November 7, consulted with each other on ways to seek progress toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in line with the principle reaffirmed by the Presidents of the two countries that the North Korean nuclear issue be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic approaches.

° The two head delegates, sharing with each other their assessments on recent developments in North Korea, discussed in depth ways to deter the North from launching further provocations and thereby keep the situation on the Korean Peninsula stable; as well as sanctions, pressure and other diplomatic efforts that need to be made to induce the North to meaningful dialogue.

° In addition, the two sides, commending China, Russia and other major countries for their constructive roles in the efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, agreed to continue strategic communication with relevant countries based on the close ROK-US collaboration.

3. The two top delegates agreed to hold further consultations as soon as possible to seek tangible ways to achieve progress toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula based on the outcome of their meeting on November 17.

4. In a related move, on November 16, Director-General for North Korean Nuclear Affairs Jeong Yeon-doo, together with Deputy Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Hiroyuki Namazu of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs who was on a visit to the ROK for a Northeast Asia Peace Forum, held a working luncheon. At the meeting partly aimed to exchange greetings, the ROK and Japanese deputy head delegates to the Six-Party Talks assessed recent developments in nuclear and other issues of North Korea; and exchanged views on ways to move denuclearization efforts forward.


* unofficial translation