1. On February 3, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with US Secretary of Defense James Mattis during the latter’s visit to the Republic of Korea. In their meeting, the two ranking officials discussed in depth major foreign and security issues, including those pertaining to North Korea and its nuclear program; the ROK-US alliance; and the situation in Northeast Asia.

2. Minister Yun pointed out that North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities are rapidly advancing to a fundamentally different level from that of the past and are posing a direct threat to not only the ROK and the US but also the entire international community. On that note, he underscored that the ROK and the US, based on their shared view of the threat, should beef up their already firm response posture in a move that goes in line with the “peace through strength” principle of the Trump administration.

° Minister Yun mentioned that it is important to further bolster diplomacy aimed at pressuring North Korea and military deterrence against it in efforts to address nuclear and other issues of North Korea under the Trump administration. Secretary Mattis, fully sharing the Minister’s view, suggested that the ROK and the US remain in close coordination with each other to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

° The two sides drew a common understanding that China’s role is of paramount importance for the resolution of issues pertaining to North Korea and its nuclear program. They agreed to consult closely with each other to seek specific ways to continuously induce China to thoroughly implement relevant UN Security Council sanctions resolutions and to play a constructive role in other additional ways in deterring the North from blatantly advancing its nuclear capability, a grave threat even to China.

3. Secretary Mattis, mentioning that the ROK-US alliance is rocksolid and that the US will always stand with the ROK, stressed that “you (the ROK) can count 100% on the firm US commitment to the defense of the ROK, including through the extended deterrence. The two sides agreed to keep their combined defense posture steadfast and respond sternly and strongly to any strategic and tactical provocations by North Korea.

° The two sides, calling the planned deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to US Forces Korea a merely defensive measure against North Korea’s threats that will not undermine national interests of any other countries, agreed to deploy the system as planned.

4. Minister Yun stressed that, in responding to North Korea’s threats, the foreign and defense ministries of the ROK and the US should coordinately closely and employ the full range of available means. On that note, he proposed that the two countries put into active operation the ROK-US Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG), which had been launched in December 2016.

° Secretary Mattis, sharing the Minister’s view that comprehensive approaches, including military, diplomatic and economic, are necessary in responding to North Korea’s threats and that cooperation between the foreign and defense (2+2) authorities of the ROK and the US is useful, suggested that the two countries work more closely together in that regard.

5. Minister Yun shared with the Secretary the ROK government’s assessment of the overall situation in Northeast Asia surrounding the Korean Peninsula. Secretary Mattis mentioned that the purpose of his visit to the ROK was to relay the firm US commitment to its alliance with the ROK and to obtain a better understanding of the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. The Secretary, calling his talks with the Minister personally useful, proposed that they continue close consultations.


* unofficial translation