1. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yoon Soon-gu, together with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya, held the 8th Republic of Korea-Ukraine Policy Consultations and a working luncheon in Seoul on May 24. During the Policy Consultations and the luncheon, the two sides extensively discussed ways to strengthen the relations and substantive cooperation between the two countries; the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe; and cooperation on the international stage.
2. The two sides shared the view that since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, the two countries have advanced their close relations; and took note of steadily ongoing bilateral consultations in various areas, including the meetings of the Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation in 2017 and the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in 2018 as well as the Policy Consultations in 2019, the first in seven years since 2012.
3. The two sides agreed to continue efforts to further deepen and expand bilateral substantive cooperation in various areas with high potential for cooperation, including trade, investment, science, technology and agriculture, on the basis of the mutually complementary industrial and trade structures of the two countries.
° Deputy Minister Yoon explained that the ROK government has taken an active part in the international community’s efforts to support Ukraine and will provide the country with 400,000 USD in humanitarian assistance in 2019. Deputy Minister Kyslytsya extended appreciation in response.
4. Deputy Minister Yoon explained the current situation on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of the three inter-Korean and two United States-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea summits since 2018, asking for Ukraine’s support for the efforts of the ROK government to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.
° Deputy Minister Kyslytsya expressed support for the ROK government’s efforts for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
5. Deputy Minister Kyslytsya explained the position of new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had been inaugurated on May 20, regarding the internal situation and foreign policy of Ukraine and agreed to step up cooperation on international stages, including the United Nations.
6. The 8th ROK-Ukraine Policy Consultations are seen to have served as an opportunity for the ROK to promote its friendly and cooperative ties with Ukraine, the world’s 4th-largest grain exporter that is situated at a strategically important location connecting Europe and Asia; and to reinforce the ROK’s foundation for diplomatic diversification.
* unofficial translation