1. With this year marking the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Vatican, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha visited the Vatican on January 26 and met with her Vatican counterpart Paul Gallagher. The two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including ways to advance the relations between the two countries, a successful hosting of the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and global issues.

2. Minister Kang said that many Korean people are deeply grateful to Pope Francis, who visited the ROK in 2014 and offered words of comfort and hope to vulnerable groups in society. Minister Kang also hoped to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Vatican, one of the symbols of world peace.

o Minister Gallagher expressed appreciation for President Moon Jae-in’s dispatch of a presidential envoy to the Vatican after his inauguration in May last year, and expressed hope that the Vatican’s relations with the ROK will be further developed.

o With this year marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Minister Kang invited Minister Gallagher to visit the ROK in order to enhance high-level exchanges and friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. Minister Gallagher said that he will visit the ROK at a mutually convenient time this year.

3. Minister Kang said that the ROK government is working to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula through inter-Korean talks resumed for the first time in two years, and expressed appreciation to Pope Francis for supporting efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and hold inter-Korean dialogue.

o Minister Kang explained in detail what progress has been made recently in inter-Korean relations, and said that the ROK will exert efforts to ensure that the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, to be held in two weeks, will contribute to easing tensions and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.

o Minister Gallagher said that the latest resumption of inter-Korean talks and North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics are very encouraging signals not only for the Korean Peninsula but for world peace. He said that the Vatican will also make possible contributions to make sure that the Olympics will be held successfully in a peaceful environment.

4. The two Ministers exchanged views on major global issues, including the situation in Northeast Asia, and climate change.

5. The meeting, which marked the first between the Ministers of the two countries, served as an opportunity to reaffirm their willingness to work together to further advance the ROK-Vatican relations, and promote peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, as well as to contribute to increasing the international community’s interest and support to successfully host the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games.

* unofficial translation