1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se held the first Republic of Korea-France foreign ministerial strategic dialogue with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Jean-Marc Ayrault of France in Seoul on March 24. In the meeting, the two top diplomats discussed in depth the ROK-France relations; the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the North Korean nuclear and human rights issues; situations in Syria, Libya and other regions; and such international issues as terrorism and climate change.

2. The two Ministers agreed to take the bilateral “comprehensive partnership for the 21st century” a notch higher through the “Years 2015-2016 of ROK-France Bilateral Exchanges” event, the largest-ever of its kind consisting of 350 programs, in commemoration of the 130th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations in 2016.

3. With regard to North Korean issues, Minister Yun asked France to play an active role in efforts to thoroughly implement the UN Security Council sanctions resolution on North Korea as well as the EU’s unilateral sanctions on the country; efforts to improve the human rights situation in North Korea; and efforts to achieve a peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula. In response, Minister Ayrault, stressing that France has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, stated that France fully supports the ROK government’s policy toward North Korea.

4. With respect to regional and global issues, the two Ministers expressed deep concern over the fact that the simultaneous terrorist attacks in France on November 13, 2015 and in Brussels, Belgium, on March 22, 2016 had claimed lives of many innocent people. They agreed to continuously take active parts in international efforts to fight terrorism, including preventing the money-laundering by terrorist groups and rendering support to such vulnerable countries as Syria and Libya.

5. At the opening ceremony of the “ROK-France Leaders’ Forum” held ahead of their strategic dialogue, the two Ministers delivered keynote speeches on “the 130 years of the ROK-France relations: retrospect and prospect” to present a vision for a stronger comprehensive partnership between the two countries and specific ways to work together to that end.

6. The inaugural ROK-France ministerial strategic dialogue is seen to have played a role in further enhancing the friendly and cooperative ties between the ROK and France, which have been rapidly advancing over the recent years across the board, including political affairs, economy and culture. The two Ministers agreed to fully use a variety of multilateral meetings to seek to continuously step up cooperation on the not only bilateral but also regional and global levels.


* unofficial translation