1. On October 27, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who visited the Republic of Korea to attend the 49th ROK-US Security Consultative Meeting, and exchanged views on the North Korean nuclear issue, President Trump’s visit to the ROK, and the ROK-US alliance.

2. Minister Kang took note that the ROK and the US have been maintaining a strong allied defense posture and deterrence against North Korea in response to the North’s nuclear and missile threats, and stressed that it is more important than anything else to manage the situation on the Korean Peninsula in a stable manner, while responding sternly to North Korea’s provocations through close cooperation between the ROK and the US. She also asked for active cooperation from Defense Secretary Mattis to make a success of President Trump’s state visit to the ROK, scheduled for November 7 and 8.

3. Secretary Mattis reaffirmed that the ROK-US alliance remains strong, and said that the US will continue to coordinate closely in advance through the alliance in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue. He also said that the US will continue to actively work together with the ROK to make sure that President Trump’s visit to the ROK will become a successful one that clearly shows such strong alliance between the ROK and the US.

4. The Minister and the Secretary agreed to continue close coordination between the ROK and US diplomatic and defense authorities (2+2).


* unofficial translation