1. Director-General for North Korean Nuclear Affairs Lee Moonhee had a telephone conversation with Ambassador-at-Large for the North Korean nuclear issue Oleg Burmistrov of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in their capacity as the Korean and Russian deputy chief negotiators for the North Korean nuclear issue on the afternoon of January 26.

2. The two sides shared assessments of the recent developments on the Korean Peninsula including the 8th Congress of the Workers’ Party of North Korea and exchanged views on ways for Korea and Russia to work together to achieve progress toward complete denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

° Director-General Lee commended Russia’s efforts for progress in the situation on the Korean Peninsula and invited Ambassador Burmistrov to visit Korea for more in-depth dialogue.

° Ambassador Burmistrov extended appreciation to Director-General Lee for the invitation, expressing his will to visit Korea as soon as possible and hoping to continue cooperation on Korean Peninsula issues on the international stage including the United Nations.