1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia on September 13 to make an assessment of North Korea’s fifth nuclear test and to discuss ways to respond to it.

2. Foreign Minister Yun extended congratulations to Russia on the success of the second Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) held in Vladivostok on September 2 and 3, as well as appreciation to President Putin and the rest of the Russian government for their warm hospitality toward President Park Geun-hye and the rest of the Republic of Korea delegation. Minister Lavrov expressed appreciation to President Park for her attendance at the EEF.

3. Minister Yun, calling North Korea’s fifth nuclear test the strongest and the most technologically advanced among its five rounds conducted over the past ten years, noted that as the ROK delegation had emphasized at the recent East Asia Summit (EAS), if North Korea’s nuclear ambitions are not thwarted now, the entire international community will end up regretting it. He added that it is important to make North Korea pay a harsh price for conducting the nuclear test in disregard of the UN and the Security Council’s authority and thereby to prevent further provocations.

° The Minister also underscored the need to respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats in a way that corresponds to their unprecedented gravity; and for the international community to send to North Korea a stern message through a swift adoption of a tough UN Security Council resolution. In addition, he brought renewed attention to the fact that North Korea is the one that has escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia over the decades and that the ROK’s measures are for self-defense.

4. Minister Lavrov, mentioning that Russia shares with the international community concerns over North Korea’s fifth nuclear test and condemns North Korea’s adventuristic actions, affirmed that amid North Korea repeatedly, intentionally and openly violating Security Council resolutions, Russia will take an active part in the discussions on the possible adoption of a new Security Council resolution.

° Minister Lavrov, agreeing on the need for the international community to be united and take joint steps, suggested that various diplomatic efforts be made continuously to resolve the issue.

5. The two Ministers agreed to remain in close communication and cooperation on the North Korean nuclear issue and to hold a meeting between the two countries’ head delegates to the Six-Party Talks in the near future.


* unofficial translation