1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun held a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman in Washington, D.C., in the afternoon of November 16, local time, and had extensive discussions on ROK-U.S. alliance, the Korean Peninsula, and regional and global issues.

o This is the third ROK-U.S. vice foreign ministerial face-to-face consultation this year between Vice Minister Choi and Deputy Secretary Sherman. The meeting lasted an hour in a friendly atmosphere, including the one-on-one bilateral.

2. Vice Minister Choi and Deputy Secretary Sherman agreed that the follow-up measures to the ROK-U.S. Summit in May are being implemented promptly, and committed to work together on various issues including vaccines and supply chains.

3. Vice Minister Choi and Deputy Secretary Sherman recognized that the horizon of ROK-U.S. cooperation continues to expand, and had an in-depth discussion on cooperation in various regions such as Central America, Iran and West Africa, and on global issues including climate change and COVID-19.

o Vice Minister Choi explained to Deputy Secretary Sherman various ROK-Northern Triangle cooperative projects, and the results of the “Korea-Central America Special Roundtable.” In addition, Vice Minister Choi shared the developments in the New Southern Policy and the two agreed to continue working together with ASEAN.

o Deputy Secretary Sherman acknowledged that Korea is deepening its contribution in ASEAN and Central and South America through various cooperation projects, and noted with appreciation that Korea is in close coordination with the U.S. in the process.

o Vice Minister Choi and Deputy Secretary Sherman also discussed Iran. Vice Minister Choi emphasized that Korea will continue to provide necessary diplomatic support regarding Iran nuclear talks, and Deputy Secretary Sherman appreciated Korea’s role and hoped to continue close communication on the issue.

o Vice Minister Choi and Deputy Secretary Sherman agreed to continue high-level exchange between the two countries on various occasions, and to discuss key issues frequently.

4. Furthermore, the two sides acknowledged that Korea and the U.S. are closely communicating and coordinating on every level to achieve substantial progress in the Korean Peninsula Peace Process including the end-of-war declaration, and agreed to continue consultations on substantial ways to encourage North Korea to return to dialogue.

5. Vice Minister Choi and Deputy Secretary Sherman shared the view that trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S., and Japan is crucial, and resolved to continue constructive discussions in the 9^th Korea-U.S.-Japan vice foreign ministerial meeting scheduled for the following day, November 17.