1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha spoke by phone with her US counterpart Rex Tillerson on January 12, and discussed the high-level inter-Korean talks recently held, and ways for the Republic of Korea and the US to strengthen cooperation.

2. Minister Kang explained the results of the high-level inter-Korean talks (January 9), including North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, and stressed the ROK government’s position that it will push for both an improvement in inter-Korean relations and the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue at the same time.

o In addition, Minister Kang recalled that the leaders of the two countries agreed to further step up cooperation between the two countries in their phone conversation on January 10, and said that the US side’s firm adherence to principle to achieve the goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula significantly helped achieve results in the high-level inter-Korean talks.

3. Secretary of State Tillerson expressed appreciation for Minister Kang’s explanation, and said that the high-level inter-Korean talks were very encouraging. He also showed interest in developments after the inter-Korean talks, and offered to pursue close consultations between the ROK and the US on ways to deal with North Korea.

4. The Minister and the Secretary agreed to closely work together on inter-Korean talks and ways to address North Korea, and also agreed to discuss how the ROK and the US will cooperate on North Korea in their meeting to be held on the sidelines of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Security and Stability next week.

* unofficial translation