1. On September 28, First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam visited Senegal, a non-permanent member state of the UN Security Council in 2016 and 2017 and major country in West Africa. He held a policy consultation with Vice Foreign Minister Mame Baba Cisse, in which the two ranking diplomats reviewed the progress in the Republic of Korea-Senegal relations across the board and discussed situations on the Korean Peninsula and in other regions of the world as well as ways to work together on the international stage.

2. With regard to North Korean issues and the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Vice Minister Lim extended appreciation to Senegal, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, for its role in the lead-up to the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2270 on North Korea and for submitting a report on the implementation of the resolution. He asked the Senegalese government to join international efforts to pressure North Korea in response to its fifth nuclear test.

° The Senegalese side, calling North Korea’s repeated provocations, including its fifth nuclear test on September 9, unacceptable, stated that Senegal will consistently support the ROK’s position at the UN and on other international stages, and contribute to efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue by thoroughly implementing UN Security Council resolutions.

3. The two countries agreed to form an ROK-Senegal joint committee for comprehensive discussions on ways to increase cooperation on defense industry, development, economy and trade. Vice Minister Lim proposed holding its inaugural meeting in Seoul in the first half of the year 2017.

° The Senegalese side, accepting the proposal, suggested that the Foreign Ministries of the two countries continue consultations on the matter.

4. Vice Ministers Lim and Cisse, affirming their commitment to counter-terrorism cooperation, agreed to step up bilateral cooperation to that end.

° In particular, with respect to the current possibility of terrorist attacks in West Africa, Vice Minister Lim asked the Senegalese government to pay serious attention to and cooperate in efforts to protect the Koreans in the country.

5. The two countries noted with appreciation the ROK’s development cooperation and assistance for socio-economic development of Senegal. They agreed to work closely together to make a success of the fourth ROK-Africa Forum and the third Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, which will be hosted by the ROK in Addis Ababa on December 6 and 7 and by Senegal on December 5 and 6, respectively.

6. Vice Minister Lim’s visit to Senegal is seen to have served as an opportunity to affirm the ROK’s commitment to cooperation with West Africa; to increase high-level exchanges and substantive cooperation; and further strengthen the basis for international coordination for pressuring North Korea.


* unofficial translation