1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with her Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland on August 6 on the sidelines of ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ meetings in Manila.

2. The two Ministers shared the view that North Korea’s rapidly growing nuclear and missile capabilities are posing serious challenges and threats to the international community, and engaged in in-depth discussions on ways for the ROK and Canada to work together to solve the North Korean nuclear problem.

o They also agreed that it is important for the international community to show unity and determination to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, and stressed that it is important to make sure that new UN Security Council Resolution 2371, containing strong sanctions against North Korea, is faithfully implemented.

o Minister Kang said that sanctions and pressure on North Korea are not a goal in themselves, but a means to induce North Korea to take the path towards denuclearization, and that the ROK, in close cooperation with countries concerned, is working to create conditions to resume denuclearization talks. She asked the Canadian side to support the ROK government’s efforts to solve the North Korean nuclear problem and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

o Minister Freeland expressed hope that the governments of Canada and the ROK will continue close communications on the North Korean nuclear issue, and reaffirmed the Canadian government’s unwavering support for the ROK government’s position on North Korea and its nuclear issue.

3. The meeting, which marked the first ROK-Canada Foreign Ministers’ meeting since the inauguration of the two Ministers, was the one between female Foreign Ministers, which highlighted the two countries’ policies on gender equality. The meeting also served as an opportunity for the two Ministers to reaffirm their commitment to work together on the North Korean nuclear issue.


* unofficial translation