1. On July 7, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with Minister of State for Defense Affairs Khalid Bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah of Qatar, who was on a visit to the Republic of Korea. In the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the ROK-Qatar relations, defense and economic cooperation and situations in diverse regions of the world.

2. The two Ministers noted with appreciation that the two countries have been seeing their cooperative ties further consolidated through robust high-level exchanges, including Qatari Emir Tamim’s visit to the ROK in November 2014 and President Park Geun-hye’s visit to Qatar in March 2015. They agreed to take their relations a notch higher.

° In particular, the two sides, calling the ROK-Qatar high-level strategic consultation held since 2012 a foundation for the enhancement of bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding, agreed to work closely with each other.

3. The two Ministers noted with appreciation that their two countries are broadening the scope of cooperation beyond the sectors of energy, construction, shipbuilding and infrastructure of the past to include defense industry, healthcare and medical service. They expressed expectation that such mutually beneficial cooperation will increase.

° With both sides recognizing the excellence of the ROK-made defense supplies, the Qatari delegation voiced hope for cooperation with the ROK in the field, including by learning the ROK’s technology, in a way that meets Qatar’s needs.

° In particular, Minister Yun, expressing wish for the success of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, asked the Qatari government to pay attention to and support bids of Korean companies to take part in various infrastructure projects in Qatar for the forthcoming World Cup.

4. The two Ministers, both calling North Korea’s fourth nuclear test and long-range missile provocations in early 2016 a grave threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond, agreed to work closely together in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2270.

° Minister Yun extended appreciation to Qatar for joining international efforts to pressure North Korea, including by condemning North Korea’s nuclear test through the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and asked the country to continue paying attention to human rights issues concerning the North Korean laborers in the country.


* unofficial translation