1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha made an official visit to Singapore from March 7 to 8. On March 8, Minister Kang met with Foreign Minister of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan, and discussed issues on the Korean Peninsula, the New Southern Policy, and ways to step up cooperation between the two countries.

2. Minister Kang said that as a result of the diplomatic efforts the ROK government had exerted to bring North Korea to the table for dialogue under the firm principle of denuclearization, meaningful agreements between the two Koreas were reached during the ROK special envoys’ visit to North Korea. Minister Kang asked for the interest and support of the Singaporean government, the ASEAN chair for 2018, to make sure that such efforts by the ROK government lead to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of a lasting peace.

o Minister Balakrishnan welcomed the turning point created in improving inter-Korean relations through the special envoys’ latest visit to North Korea, and said that his country supports the ROK’s efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and establish an enduring peace, as it has supported the need for inter-Korean talks.

3. Minister Kang said that the ROK government is actively pushing forward the New Southern Policy, aimed at elevating the ROK-ASEAN relations to a higher level in a wide range of areas, and asked Singapore to actively work together with the ROK in its efforts to implement the New Southern Policy.

o Minister Balakrishnan welcomed the ROK government’s commitment to strengthening its relations with ASEAN, and expressed expectations about the New Southern Policy.

o In addition, the two Ministers agreed to closely work together to increase substantive cooperation between the two countries in various areas, including air services liberalization, the ROK-Singapore FTA, and the Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO).

4. Right after her meeting with Minister Balakrishnan, Minister Kang paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, and discussed issues on the Korean Peninsula and the New Southern Policy.

* unofficial translation