1. During his visit to New York to attend the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met bilaterally with Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei of Belarus on September 19, local time. In their meeting, the two top diplomats discussed the Republic of Korea-Belarus relations, ways to step up substantive cooperation in trade, investment and information, and communications technology (ICT), ways to coordinate on the North Korean nuclear issue, and situations in diverse regions of the world.

2. The two Ministers took note of steady advances in the friendly and cooperative ties between their two countries that mark the 25 anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2017 as well as the increasingly robust inter-government consultations, including at the recent policy consultation and meeting of the Joint Committee on Economy, Science and Technology.

° In particular, the two Ministers hailed the tangible progress in substantive cooperation, including the opening of the Minsk office of the Korean Trade – Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in March 2014 and the first entry of a Korean IT company into Belarus in June 2014. They drew a common understanding that the ROK-Belarus trade and investment will grow on the back of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and an ROK-Belarus FTA, for which negotiations are under way.

° The two Ministers agreed to seek closer cooperation on the e-government system and pharmaceuticals at the second meeting of the joint committee on science and technology in 2016. Minister Makei extended appreciation to the ROK government for its cooperation on the e-government system.

3. With regard to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Minister Yun pointed out the gravity of North Korea’s fifth nuclear test and explained in detail the outcome of the ROK’s analysis of the test. Calling North Korea’s recent nuclear test a grave provocation conducted in flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2270, the Minister asked Belarus to cooperate actively toward the adoption of a new, tough Security Council sanctions resolution.

° Minister Makei responded that the government of Belarus has supported the efforts for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula; strongly condemns the recent nuclear test and missile launches by North Korea; and will thoroughly implement UN Security Council sanctions resolutions.

4. The ROK-Belarus meeting is seen to have served as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with Belarus, a country that had voluntarily surrendered nuclear capability and has supported the efforts for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, in the implementation of Security Council sanctions resolutions and the adoption of a new one, as well as to reaffirm the friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries.


* unofficial translation