By Min Yea-Ji and Lee Hana

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha met with E.U. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Brussels on Oct. 20.

The two addressed the state of bilateral relations between Korea and the E.U. and discussed measures to address North Korean nuclear weapons issues.

Kang said that the strategic partnership between Korean and the E.U. has now expanded beyond politics and business into the realm of crisis management. Referring to the crisis management agreement established between Korea and the E.U. in December 2016, she pointed to the Korean navy's participation in the E.U.'s counter-piracy military operations in Somalia (EU NAVFOR) as one such example.

"Korea is one of the E.U.'s closest partners, and our bilateral relationship is of the highest quality," said Mogherini. "We would like to thank Korea for taking part in EU NAVFOR Somalia, and hope to further expand our bilateral, regional and international cooperation in the future," she added.

The two leaders affirmed their commitment to applying pressure and stronger sanctions to North Korea, together with the international community, so as to bring Pyongyang to the negotiating table. They agreed that they should continue denuclearization efforts, such as sending a message to the Northern regime that promises a bright future if it were to step in the right direction.

Furthermore, Kang stressed the significance of the E.U.'s latest sanctions on North Korea, and emphasized just how important it is to keep the situation under control so as not to further heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"We fully support Korea taking a leading role in matters related to the Korean Peninsula. Moving forward, the E.U. is committed to lending support to solving the North Korean nuclear weapons issues," said Mogherini.

jesimin@korea.kr