1. On April 13, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, who is visiting the Republic of Korea to attend the 7th World Water Forum (April 12-17, Daegu). They engaged in an in-depth exchange of views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korean nuclear and human rights issues, as well as major global issues, including development and climate change.

2. Minister Yun explained the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korean nuclear and human rights issues, and stated that while responding sternly to North Korea’s threats, the ROK government is continuing its efforts to hold dialogue to improve inter-Korean relations. He also stressed that the UN is the ROK’s important partner for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

o Deputy Secretary-General Eliasson expressed support for the Trust-building Process on the Korean Peninsula proposed by President Park, and added that the UN will keep an eye on related developments and make necessary efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

3. Minister Yun stated that the ROK, which established a government and achieved economic development with the help of the UN, shares the three universal values upheld by the UN -- development, human rights and security. Deputy Secretary-General Eliasson expressed appreciation for the ROK’s support and contribution in the key fields of the UN activities, including development, security and responses to climate change.

4. Deputy Secretary-General Eliasson noted with appreciation the outcome of the ROK-Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ meeting held recently amid tensions in Northeast Asia, as well as the ROK’s role in making the meeting materialize.

o Minister Yun emphasized that in their meeting, the three Foreign Ministers agreed to squarely face up to history and work together to hold a trilateral summit meeting at the earliest possible date.

5. Deputy Secretary-General Eliasson explained the importance of the International Conference on Financing for Development to be held in Addis Ababa in July and the UN Development Summit to take place in September in setting the post-2015 UN development goals. Minister Yun said that the ROK will actively contribute to negotiations on the post-2015 development goals.

6. Deputy Secretary-General Eliasson said that the issue of climate change is Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s top-priority task and conveyed appreciation for the ROK government’s financial contribution to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). He also requested the ROK government’s cooperation in establishing a new climate regime.

o In response, Minister Yun said that the ROK, as the host country of the GCF Secretariat, will cooperate in making a successful negotiation on climate change in December.

7. Minister Yun’s meeting with the UN Deputy Secretary-General served as an opportunity to reaffirm the close cooperative relations between the ROK and the UN in Korean Peninsula-related issues and various issues at the UN and to explore the way forward in their cooperation. 


                  Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

*unofficial translation