1. During his visit to Bangkok, the Kingdom of Thailand, for the 2019 ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yoon Soon-gu met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Morgulov on August 2. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the Republic of Korea (ROK)-Russia relations, the violation of the ROK’s territorial airspace by a Russian military aircraft, and the safe return of the Russian ship that was carrying ROK nationals on board.

2. Deputy Minister Yoon expressed deep regret over the fact that a Russian military aircraft violated the ROK’s territorial airspace when the two countries were building the stronger-than-ever friendship and trust through robust summit diplomacy over the past two years. He asked the Russian government to draw up measures to prevent a recurrence.

° The Russian side, underscoring the need for the military authorities of the two countries to cooperate on the investigation into the case, agreed to communicate closely in order not to undermine the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries.

3. Deputy Minister Yoon extended appreciation to Russia for its cooperation on the safe return on July 27 of the two Korean crew members aboard the Russian fishing boat that had been detained in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

4. The two sides agreed to continue communication on bilateral issues through high-level exchanges between the two countries.