Outcome of the ROK-US Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on July 23 to exchange views on major bilateral issues and other matters of mutual concern, including cooperation measures on North Korea and its nuclear issue as well as ways to strengthen the ROK-US strategic alliance and to win an early ratification of the KORUS FTA. Minister Kim and Secretary Clinton appreciated ongoing close cooperation between the two countries on policies on North Korea and its nuclear issue, and agreed to maintain it. In this view, the US welcomed the inter-Korean meeting of the top delegates to the Six-party Talks held in Bali the day before and voiced hope that inter-Korean dialogue will remain a continuous process. Also, the two countries reaffirmed their position calling on North Korea to demonstrate with action its sincerity toward denuclearization prior to the resumption of the Six-party Talks. Minister Kim and Secretary Clinton shared the view that Korea and the US, based on the close bond and trust between their leaders, have been maintaining the strongest-ever alliance, and agreed to make joint efforts to deepen the ties and expand them into a wider range of fields. And, as part of such efforts, the two top diplomats agreed to work together for the success of the High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan this November and the 2012 Expo in Yeosu. Reaffirming the strong willingness of their leaders to win the ratification of the KORUS FTA, Minister Kim and Secretary Clinton concurred to make every effort to complete the ratification process at an early date.