1. On the sidelines of the 52nd Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany on February 13. In their meeting, the two top diplomats discussed in detail ways for comprehensive collaboration between the Republic of Korea and Germany with regard to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test and launch of a long-range missile.

2. Minister Yun mentioned that North Korea advanced its nuclear and missile capabilities over the past ten years through four nuclear tests and six rounds of long-range missile launches. He added that in order to prevent North Korea from carrying out further provocations, the strongest and most comprehensive kind of sanctions resolution should be adopted. In that regard, he voiced hope that the government of Germany, a key EU country, will pay keen attention to and cooperate for the EU to draw up as strong unilateral sanctions on North Korea as those from the US and Japan.

° Minister Yun explained the background behind and the expected effect of the ROK government’s full suspension of the operations of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, saying that the ROK government had made the difficult decision in order to take part in the international community’s effective sanctions and encourage other countries to join in them.

° Minister Steinmeier stated that Germany is mulling over imposing sanctions and taking measures of pressure on North Korea at the bilateral level in a stern response to North Korea’s provocations. He added that active cooperation will be rendered for the EU to impose strong sanctions on North Korea.

3. The two Ministers noted with appreciation that the ROK and Germany are seeing further advances in their relations through high-level exchanges, including President Joachim Gauck’s visit to the ROK in October 2015. They agreed to continuously boost high-level exchanges, including through high-level policy consultations, in 2016.

4. Ministers Yun and Steinmeier have held six bilateral meetings, including the one on February 13, 2016, since March 2014. In particular, the meeting on February 13 served as an opportunity to reaffirm the close ROK-Germany collaboration on pressuring North Korea in response to the North’s fourth nuclear test and launch of a long-range missile, and an opportunity to consolidate the bilateral relations as well as cooperation on major international issues.


* unofficial translation