1. On the occasion of the high-level segment of the 40^th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met bilaterally with Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Norway Ine Søreide on February 25. In the meeting, the two top diplomats discussed the way forward for the relationship between the Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Norway in 2019, the year marking the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and on, as well as the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.

° The ROK and Norway established diplomatic relations on March 2, 1959.

2. The two Ministers agreed to further boost high-level exchanges; to further step up substantive cooperation; and thereby to maintain mutually beneficial ties in 2019, the year marking the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and on. They also agreed to respond jointly to climate change, development cooperation and other major issues of the international community.

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

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

4. The ROK-Norway foreign ministerial meeting is seen to have served as a useful opportunity for the two countries, which mark the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations, to discuss the direction of bilateral cooperation and to maintain their future-oriented cooperative ties.

* unofficial translation