1. On November 21, the second day of the 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam held bilateral meetings with Deputy Foreign Minister (Minister of State) U Kyaw Tin of Myanmar, the chair of the ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and Foreign Minister of Norway Ine Eriksen SØreide, and exchanged views on bilateral issues and the North Korean nuclear issue.

2. In his meeting with Myanmar’s Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Tin, Vice Minister Lim spoke highly of the success of the 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and said that the ROK government is placing importance on strengthening its relations with ASEAN, and hopes to work more closely together with Myanmar. Deputy Minister U Kyaw Tin welcomed the ROK government’s policy to boost ties with ASEAN, and hoped to see more robust high-level engagements between the two countries.

3. The two sides shared the view that economic cooperation between the ROK and Myanmar has considerable potential for further growth. Deputy Minister U Kyaw Tin asked the ROK, Myanmar’s key economic partner, to actively encourage Korean companies to expand investment in Myanmar. Vice Minister Lim hoped that Korean companies will increase their presence in the country, including through the construction of the ROK-Myanmar economic cooperation industrial complex.

4. In addition, Vice Minister Lim expressed appreciation to the government of Myanmar for its support and cooperation on the ROK government’s efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue and establish a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. He said that as it is important to bring North Korea to the table for serious dialogue by thoroughly and fully implementing Security Council resolutions, the ROK hopes to see continued active cooperation from Myanmar.

o Deputy Minister U Kyaw Tin shared the international community’s concern over the North Korean issue, and said that his government is faithfully implementing Security Council resolutions, including by expelling North Korean diplomats recently.

5. Regarding the recent developments in Rakhine State, Myanmar, Deputy Minister U Kyaw Tin said that his country will start to take back refugees as soon as possible in consultation with neighboring Bangladesh, and asked for the ROK side’s interest and support. Vice Minister Lim said that the ROK side provided US$2 million in humanitarian assistance, and will continue to pay attention to the issue and actively work together with the government of Myanmar and the international community.

6. Vice Minister Lim and Norwegian Minister SØreide took note that the ROK and Norway have been closely cooperating in the shipbuilding and maritime industry based on their complementary trade structure, and agreed to expand high-level exchanges and substantive cooperation in Arctic affairs and the defense industry.

o The two sides shared their assessments of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and agreed to continue to closely cooperate to solve the North Korean nuclear problem. They also agreed to continue to actively work together to make the PyeongChang Winter Olympics next year a peace festival that promotes peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.


* unofficial translation