1. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu held the 6th Republic of Korea-Netherlands policy consultation with Director General for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Andre Haspels at the Dutch Foreign Ministry on January 24, and engaged in extensive discussions on ways to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries, regional situations, and global issues.

o The policy consultation came as a measure to follow up on the ROK-Netherlands summit held on the occasion of the G20 summit in December 2018 (Buenos Aires).

2. The two sides took note that since elevating the ROK-Netherlands relations to a “comprehensive future-oriented partnership” in 2016, marking the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries, as future-oriented partners responding to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, had been actively working together not only on bilateral issues, but also on regional and global issues based on their common belief.

3. The two sides also took note of robust exchanges between the leaders of the two countries, including the visit to the ROK by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, and Prime Minister Rutte during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February 2018, as well as the ROK-Netherlands summits on numerous occasions.

o The two sides agreed to maintain such momentum and further increase high-level exchanges.

4. They welcomed the fact that the two countries, building upon the ROK-EU FTA, had strengthened their mutually-beneficial trade and investment relations, and achieved a bilateral trade volume of over US$10 billion for the past two years. They appreciated that this was a representative case that showed the excellence of free trade and an open economy amid the recent spread of protectionism.

o Deputy Minister Yoon expressed concern over the fact that the EU side notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its intent to impose definitive safeguard measures on certain steel products, and asked for the Dutch side’s support to make sure that it does not cause an obstacle to mutually-beneficial trade between the ROK and the EU.

5. Deputy Minister Yoon explained the latest situation on the Korean Peninsula, the ROK government’s North Korea policy, and its efforts to completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and to establish a lasting peace on the Peninsula. He also took note of the Netherlands’ consistent support for the ROK government’s North Korea policy, and asked for continued cooperation and support.

o Director General Haspels reaffirmed that firm collaboration between the ROK and the Netherlands to denuclearize the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula will continue.

6. In addition, the two sides engaged in a broad exchange of views on the situation in Europe and ways to work together on the global stage, including ways to respond to Brexit (the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU).

* unofficial translation