1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha spoke over the phone with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono on March 30, and engaged in in-depth discussions on the North Korea-China summit meeting held recently; North Korea and its nuclear issue; inter-Korean relations; and the ROK-Japan relations.

2. The two Ministers exchanged views on the North Korea-China summit meeting held recently.

o Minister Kang said that it holds big significance that in the North Korea-China summit meeting, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his commitment to denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and holding inter-Korean and US-North Korea summits. Minister Kang also stressed the ROK government’s position that it will continue to closely collaborate with countries concerned to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully and establish a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

3. Minister Kang explained the results of the high-level inter-Korean talks (March 29), and emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries to successfully hold an inter-Korean summit.

o Minister Kono expressed appreciation for Minister Kang’s explanations, and offered to continue to closely cooperate to successfully hold an inter-Korean summit.

4. The two Ministers agreed to closely work together to hold an ROK-Japan-China summit as soon as possible, and to continue consultations between the two countries’ diplomatic authorities to arrange Minister Kono’s visit to the ROK at the earliest possible date.

5. Minister Kang sternly protested the Japanese government’s adoption on March 30 of the courses of study for high schools that contain unjustifiable claims to Dokdo, and strongly demanded an immediate withdrawal.

* unofficial translation