1. On the occasion of the Munich Security Conference 2019, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met bilaterally with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic Le Drian on February 15, and discussed ways to step up the ROK-France cooperation building upon the outcome of the bilateral Summit talks held in October 2018 and exchanged opinions regarding the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.

2. The two Ministers noted with appreciation that since the successful ROK-France summit talks in Paris in October 2018, the two sides have held high-level exchanges for close consultations on ways to follow up on the Summit; and agreed to work together closely in order to continue to produce tangible outcomes in 2019 by implementing the measures that had been agreed upon at the 2018 summit.

° With regard to the European Union’s decision to impose definitive safeguard measures on certain steel products, Minister Kang brought attention to the fact that the measures would have impact on production at local plants and job creation in Europe. In this regard, Minister Kang requested France to support the ROK’s position in expanding the import quota for Korean steel in the EU’s review process, which would be helpful for the mutually beneficial flow of trade between the ROK and the EU.

3. Minister Kang shared with her French counterpart the ROK government’s efforts to achieve a complete denuclearization and establish a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula; expressed hope that the forthcoming second Summit between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea would serve as a significant opportunity to see meaningful progress to that end; and asked for France’s continued support and cooperation in that regard.

° Minister Le Drian reaffirmed France’s all-out support and commitment to cooperation regarding the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

4. The ROK-France foreign ministerial meeting is seen to have served as an opportunity to discuss the future direction of bilateral cooperation, including follow-up measures to the bilateral Summit held in October 2018, and to reaffirm the commitment to continued advancement of the already-close cooperative ties between the two countries.

* unofficial translation