1. The fifth ROK-US Counter-terrorism Consultation will take place at the Foreign Ministry on April 25.

o The ROK and US delegations to the consultation will be led by Ambassador for International Security Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Choi Hong-ghi and Acting Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism of the Department of State Alina Romanowski, respectively. The consultation will bring together officials from the Foreign Ministry and other related ministries.

2. The counter-terrorism consultation comes about four years after the fourth ROK-US Counter-terrorism Consultation held in November 2013, and marks the first between the two countries since the launch of the Trump administration. The upcoming consultation is expected to serve as an opportunity to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries.

3. Amid the rising threat of terrorist attacks around the world, particularly after the recent terrorist attacks in London and Stockholm, the ROK government has worked to increase international collaboration on terrorism and the ROK’s terrorism preparedness, including by enacting the Anti-terrorism Act in March last year, and opening a counter-terrorism center. The forthcoming consultation is expected to contribute to strengthening and expanding counter-terrorism cooperation with the US, an important partner for collaboration on counter-terrorism.

o In the upcoming consultation, the two sides will assess developments in global terrorism, share their counter-terrorism policies, and discuss a range of issues, including terrorists’ use of the Internet for incitement and recruitment, aviation and border security, and ways to enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism. The two sides will also discuss ways to work together to ensure the successful hosting of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, including counter-terror preparation.

o The two sides will also share their assessments of global and regional terrorism threats.

4. As shown by the recent visit to the ROK by US Vice President Mike Pence, the ROK and the US, having established a comprehensive strategic alliance based on common values and trust, will continue to closely cooperate in responding to terrorism and preventing violent extremism. The forthcoming consultation is expected to help further strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation and partnership between the ROK and the US.


* unofficial translation