1. With the end of the year 2017 and the beginning of the year 2018 just around the corner, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha talked to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson over the phone on December 29, during which the two top diplomats extensively discussed matters of concern between the Republic of Korea and the United States.

2. Minister Kang, bringing renewed attention to achievements made jointly by the two countries, including the successful reciprocal visits by their Presidents in June and November as well as close coordination on the North Korean nuclear issue, particularly noted with appreciation that the US government had highlighted the stronger-than-ever ROK-US alliance in the recent issue of the National Security Strategy (NSS) report.

° Secretary Tillerson, fully sharing the Minister’s view, suggested that on the occasion of the meeting in Vancouver in January and a number of other diplomatic events to come, the ROK and the US work more closely together to achieve the goal of peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. Minister Kang affirmed her plan to attend the Vancouver meeting.

3. With regard to stepping up coordination toward the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue, Secretary Tillerson underscored the importance of the ROK-US-Japan cooperation based on the ROK-US alliance. Minister Kang, sharing the Secretary’s view on the significance of the trilateral cooperation in responding to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, stressed that despite the “comfort women” and other historical issues with Japan, the ROK government will stably pursue substantive cooperation in such areas as security and economy.

4. Minister Kang expressed hope to continue working closely with Secretary Tillerson in 2018; reaffirmed the need to beef up coordination in implementing the recently adopted UN Security Council resolution and on policies toward North Korea; and voiced expectation for the US government to remain cooperative on the efforts to make the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in February 2018 a successful event that contributes to peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

° Secretary Tillerson, expressing wish for the success of the Pyeongchang sporting event, indicated the likelihood of an announcement being made in the near future regarding a high-level US delegation to the event.


* unofficial translation