Korea and the United States came together to discuss issues regarding the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry agreed to continue to cooperate on solving problems regarding North Korea and its development of nuclear weapons and other issues related to Northeast Asia on both the bilateral and multilateral levels, at a meeting held on the sidelines of the 51st Munich Security Conference on February 7.

Given the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and across Northeast Asia, as well as elsewhere in the international community, the two agreed that the proposed visit of President Park Geun-hye to the U.S. this year will be quite timely. They also agreed to hold consultations on such relevant details as the timing, formalities and agenda to make a success of the visit.



The two sides, sharing deep concern over North Korea strengthening its nuclear weapons capability, exchanged views on ways to promote collaboration among five countries. They want to build on the meaningful outcome of the meeting of Six-Party Talks head-delegates among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan recently held in Tokyo.

Calling the year 2015 a historic one that marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, as well as the 50th anniversary of the resumption of the Korea-Japan diplomatic relationship, Yun explained the South Korean government's active efforts to step up cooperation across Northeast Asia, including South Korea-Japan bilateral cooperation, cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan and among South Korea, China and Japan, and through the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative.

With respect to negotiations on the envisioned revision of the bilateral Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, both sides took note of the progress made through creative efforts by the two countries. They agreed to hold the final round of negotiations in the near future and to make their utmost efforts to reach a compromise as soon as possible.

By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
jun2@korea.kr