1. On August 10, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held the second ROK-UK Minister-level Strategic Dialogue with his UK counterpart Philip Hammond, who is making his first official visit to the Republic of Korea. The two sides had in-depth discussions not only on bilateral issues between the ROK and the UK, but also on regional situations, including on the Korean Peninsula, in Northeast Asia, and in the EU, and global issues, such as climate change, health diplomacy, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism response.

o The Minister-level Strategic Dialogue, together with the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), is a main pillar of the ROK-UK strategic partnership. They are consultative mechanisms created for strategic discussions during President Park Geun-hye’s state visit to the UK in November 2013.

2. Minister Yun and his UK counterpart Hammond noted with appreciation that following President Park’s state visit to the UK in November 2013, the comprehensive, creative partnership between the two countries has been deepening and expanding in various areas. In particular, they shared the view that with the trade volume between the two countries recording an all-time high (US$ 13.2 billion) in 2014, economic cooperation is expanding into a wider range of areas and there is also a big potential for cooperation in the defense industry.

3. Minister Yun reaffirmed that the ROK and the UK are becoming natural partners not only at the bilateral level but also at the global level. He offered to continue to pursue closer cooperation between the UK, which, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is a leading country in the EU and other international fora, and the ROK, which, as a responsible member of the international community, is seeking to play the role of a middle-power country, in order to resolve global challenges together.

o Putting strategic emphasis on “humanitarian diplomacy,” Minister Yun especially offered to further enhance bilateral coordination in health diplomacy and development cooperation. Foreign Secretary Hammond commended the ROK’s participation in international efforts to eradicate the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone, adding that the ROK was the only non-Western country to do so. The Secretary also hoped that the ROK and the UK will further boost their cooperation in the development cooperation sector in Africa. Minister Yun took note of the UK’s “Look east policy, all of Asia.”

o Concerning the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO), Secretary Hammond stressed the need to build PKO capabilities, as well as the need to strengthen the international community’s role in the UN’s Peacekeeping Operations.

4. Minister Yun explained in detail issues related to North Korea, including the Chairman's Statement of the latest ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting and North Korea’s recent attitude; the situation in Northeast Asia; the ROK government’s efforts to improve ROK-Japan relations; and the prospect for a trilateral summit among the ROK, China and Japan. Secretary Hammond stated that with Northeast Asia’s international status being enhanced, he is very much interested in stability in the region, and hoped to see improved relations among the three countries in Northeast Asia.

5. Meanwhile, Secretary Hammond said that the Iranian nuclear agreement is an exemplary case where the international community’s two-track approach of “sanctions and pressure” and “negotiations” worked successfully. He expressed the view that this successful case will also have a positive impact on efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. Minister Yun requested the UK’s constructive role in addressing the North Korean nuclear issue.

o Minister Yun has had strategic consultations with all of major negotiators from the P5+1 countries involved in the Iran nuclear talks by meeting with Secretary Hammond today, following meetings with German Foreign Minister Steinmeier, French Foreign Minister Fabius, IAEA Director General Amano, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Mogherini, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and US Secretary of State John Kerry one after another before or after the Iranian nuclear deal.

6. At a welcome dinner held at the Foreign Minister’s official residence after this Strategic Dialogue, the two sides had in-depth discussions on stability in the Middle East, including Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen; counter-terrorism operations against extremists, such as ISIL; ways to cooperate in the climate change sector, including a successful hosting of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21); and ways to create an open and secure cyberspace, as host countries of the Global Conference on Cyberspace.

o In particular, Secretary Hammond praised the leadership that the ROK has shown in the climate change sector, including through the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). Minister Yun welcomed the opening of a GGGI office in London, scheduled for September.

7. This latest ROK-UK Strategic Dialogue came as part of the ROK government’s efforts to further consolidate strategic partnership with the EU’s Big Three – UK, Germany and France. The two sides agreed to hold strategic dialogues more frequently, building upon the achievements attained at the latest Dialogue.

o Minister Yun met with the German Foreign Minister three times in the first half of this year, and met with the French Foreign Minister in January and July. An event marking the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the ROK and France will be held in September.


*unofficial translation