1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha met with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam Erywan Yusof in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, on January 12, during which the two Ministers took note of the advances in the Republic of Korea-Brunei Darussalam relations; and discussed ways to step up substantive cooperation, the ASEAN-ROK cooperation, and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. 

2. Minister Kang noted with appreciation that over the past 35 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the ROK and Brunei Darussalam have seen their ties advance across the board, including political affairs, economy, culture and people-to-people exchanges; and that during Brunei Darussalam’s service as the country coordinator for the ASEAN-ROK dialogue relations, the ROK-Brunei foreign ministerial meeting took place in a bid to advance the ROK-Brunei Darussalam relations and to promote ASEAN-ROK relations and cooperation.

3. Minister Kang suggested that the ROK and Brunei further step up substantive bilateral cooperation on the basis of the synergy from the former government’s New Southern Policy and the latter government’s long-term Vision 2035 for national development; and asked Brunei to work closely with the ROK to make thorough preparations for the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit.

4. The two Ministers discussed in depth the situation on the Korean Peninsula, agreeing to communicate and coordinate closely with each other toward a complete denuclearization and the establishment of a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

° Minister Erywan, welcoming the ROK government’s efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula, expressed willingness to render continued support.

5. Later in the day, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha paid a courtesy call on Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and relayed to him warm regards from the ROK President.

° Sultan Bolkiah, asking the Minister to convey his appreciation and warm regards to President Moon, voiced hope for increased substantive bilateral cooperation, mainly in future growth areas, as well as support for the ROK government’s efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

6. Minister Kang’s visit to Brunei is seen to have served as an opportunity for the ROK government to be assured of support of Brunei, the former’s important cooperative partner in implementing its New Southern Policy as well as the country coordinator for the ASEAN-ROK dialogue relations, on its Korean Peninsula policy and New Southern Policy.

* unofficial translation