1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha attended a luncheon meeting of the EU Foreign Council on March 19 at the invitation of the EU, and had candid discussions with foreign ministers of EU members on the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula, and ways to respond to it.

※ At the luncheon, held without the presence of other officials, the foreign ministers engaged in an informal and free exchange of views.

2. Minister Kang explained in detail the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula and the progress made in inter-Korean relations to the EU foreign ministers participating in the EU Foreign Council meeting, and asked for the EU’s continued support and cooperation on the ROK government’s efforts to solve the North Korean nuclear problem peacefully and to establish a lasting peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

※ Minister Kang provided a briefing on the current situation on the Korean Peninsula for about ten minutes at the beginning of the luncheon meeting.

o The EU foreign ministers extended congratulations on the success of the PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and spoke highly of the efforts of the ROK government, which played a leading role in easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and reaching the agreement to hold inter-Korean and US-North Korea summits by taking advantage of the momentum for dialogues created during the Olympics.

o Minister Kang and the EU foreign ministers shared the view that an inter-Korean summit in late April and a US-North Korea summit expected to take place by May will become an important turning point in efforts to improve inter-Korean relations and to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully. They also agreed to continue to strengthen strategic communications and cooperation between the ROK and the EU.

3. Minister Kang’s participation in the EU Foreign Council meeting, which marked the first time for an ROK Foreign Minister, and discussions with the EU foreign ministers served as an opportunity to enhance European countries’ understanding of the latest developments on the Korean Peninsula, and to reaffirm the EU’s keen interest and support for the ROK government’s efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully and establish an enduring peace on the Korean Peninsula.

* unofficial translation