1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha had a telephone conversation with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Taro Kono on the morning of July 26, during which the two sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, including Japan’s measures to impose restrictions on the export of its products to the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the launch of short-range ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

2. Minister Kang urged the Japanese government to immediately withdraw its export restrictions against the ROK on three materials used in the production of semiconductors. She also urged the Japanese government not to take measures that will deteriorate the situation, including revision of its Export Trade Control Order to remove the ROK from its whitelist. Minister Kono explained the Japanese government’s position regarding its measures.

3. The two Ministers shared their assessments of the DPRK’s launch of short-range ballistic missiles on July 25, and agreed that close coordination among the ROK, the United States and Japan, including in the response to the missile launches, is essential for achieving complete denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, since now is a crucial moment in the early resumption of dialogue.

4. The two Ministers shared the view that the more difficult the relations are between the ROK and Japan, the more the two countries need to continue dialogue and communication through diplomatic channels at various levels. They agreed to exchange views on matters of mutual interest as soon as possible on various occasions, including multilateral meetings.

* unofficial translation