1. On January 25, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin of Ukraine, a member of the UN Security Council, and discussed ways for the Security Council to respond to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test.

2. Minister Yun noted with appreciation that the government of Ukraine strongly condemned North Korea’s fourth nuclear test by releasing a statement on January 6. Minister Yun also said that as Ukraine voluntarily abandoned nuclear weapons and joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 1994, the country can give a special message to North Korea. Minister Yun asked Ukraine to play an active role in adopting a strong and effective Security Council sanctions resolution.

3. In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Klimkin expressed full support for the ROK’s position that North Korea’s nuclear test is a serious challenge to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and around the world, as well as the global non-proliferation regime. Minister Klimkin said that Ukraine will closely cooperate with the ROK in adopting a Security Council resolution.


* unofficial translation