1. Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam met with a delegation from the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament on April 6, and exchanged views on the ROK-EU relations; North Korea and its nuclear issue; and the situation in Northeast Asia.

※ Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament David McAllister and seven members of the Committee are on a visit to the ROK on April 5-6.

2. Vice Minister Lim took note that the strategic partnership between the ROK and the EU, which mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, has been deepening and advancing in a range of areas. He also expressed appreciation to the European Parliament for paying much attention to and actively supporting the development of the ROK-EU relations and the establishment of a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, and asked for the European Parliament’s continued cooperation and support.

o The members of the Parliament agreed with Vice Minister Lim’s view that the ROK-EU relations have advanced in a range of areas. They also stressed that the ROK-EU FTA is playing an important role in economic cooperation between the two sides, and said that the European Parliament will continue to provide necessary support.

3. Vice Minister Lim explained the latest developments in the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and expected that inter-Korean and US-North Korea summits will become an important opportunity to make progress in the denuclearization of North Korea and to create a milestone in efforts to establish an enduring peace on the Korean Peninsula. He also asked for the European Parliament’s continued interest and support to ensure the success of the summits.

o The members of the Parliament took note that Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha had meaningful discussions on the situation on the Korean Peninsula with the foreign ministers of the EU and its member states at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on March 19. They also expressed full support for the ROK’s efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully and to establish a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, and wished for the success of inter-Korean and US-North Korea summits.

4. The two sides also exchanged views on key global issues, including the situation in Northeast Asia, and responses to trade protectionism.

5. The meeting today served as an opportunity to help the members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament better understand the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in neighboring regions, and to further strengthen the European Parliament’s support and cooperation to advance the ROK-EU relations and establish a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

* unofficial translation