◈ Meeting with his German Counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Germany on February 6, local time. In the meeting, the two Ministers discussed in detail ways for strategic collaboration on bilateral, regional and global issues. They were also reported on the outcome of the second meeting of the Korean-German Advisory Group on the Foreign Policy towards Reunification.
The two Ministers noted with appreciation that the visit to Germany by the President of the Republic of Korea in March 2014 had provided a significant momentum for advancing the ROK-Germany relations, expressing satisfaction with the progress in the implementation of follow-up measures to the visit. They consulted on their bilateral diplomatic schedule for this year, including that for summit exchanges.
◦ The two sides agreed to set a specific schedule and prepare for successful summit exchanges through diplomatic channels.
☞Full Text of the Article ◈ Korean-German Advisory Group on the Foreign Policy towards Reunification Holds its 2nd Meeting
The second meeting of the Korean-German Advisory Group on the Foreign Policy towards Reunification took place in Berlin on February 5. It covered Germany’s experience with trust-building measures; the implications of the process toward the 2+4 Agreement for the Republic of Korea; and the ROK’s unification diplomacy.
* The 15-member Korean-German Advisory Group on the Foreign Policy towards Reunification is the first-ever advisory and consultative mechanism participated by the foreign ministries of the two countries and convened on an annual basis for discussions on unification diplomacy and relevant policies. Its ROK members are Chairmen Han Seung-joo and six other officials as well as a civilian expert -- professor Kim Sung-han of Korea University. The German side consists of Chairman Hartmut Koschyk and six other officials.
◦ The two Chairmen of the Advisory Group briefed on the main details discussed in the meeting and policy suggestions to the ROK’s Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the heels of their meeting held in Berlin on February 6.
☞Full Text of the Article
- Achievements in Bilateral Diplomacy made during FM's Visit to Germany -
◈ Meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry on the Sidelines of the 51st Munich Security Conference
On the sidelines of the 51st Munich Security Conference held on February 6 and 7, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with US Secretary of State John Kerry on February 7. In the meeting, the two top diplomats took note of closer-than-ever coordination between the Republic of Korea and the United States in addressing North Korea issues, including its nuclear program, tensions in Northeast Asia, and global challenges. They agreed to continue stepping up policy coordination and cooperation on bilateral and multilateral issues in 2015.
The Minister and the Secretary shared the view that given the current situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia as well as the rest of the international community, the proposed visit of President Park Geun-hye to the US in 2015, when materialized, will be highly timely and appropriate. They agreed to hold in-depth consultations on such relevant details as the timing, formalities and agenda through diplomatic channels in order to make a success of the visit.
☞Full Text of the Article ◈ Meeting with his Swiss Counterpart Didier Burkhalter and the OSCE Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, who was on a visit to Munich, Germany, met with Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter of Switzerland, the chair country of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)’s Asian Contact Group, followed by a meeting with OSCE Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier. In the meetings, the two sides exchanged views on ways to make a success of the 2015 Republic of Korea-OSCE meeting to take place in Seoul on June 1 and 2 and to work more closely together on the ROK government’s Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative.
Minister Yun pointed out that the ROK-OSCE meeting to come in the ROK in 2015 carries great significance as the year marks the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, the basis of the OSCE, as well as the 70th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula’s liberation from Japan’s colonial rule and its division. He asked Switzerland and the OSCE to render cooperation so as to make the ROK-OSCE meeting an opportunity to share the OSCE’s abundant experiences in trust-building and security cooperation and to accelerate bilateral and multilateral trust-building processes in Northeast Asia.
☞Full Text of the Article ◈ Meeting with His Russian Counterpart Sergey Lavrov
On the sidelines of the 51st Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on February 8. In the meeting, the two top diplomats discussed in depth ways to promote the Republic of Korea-Russia relations as well as the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, including the North Korean nuclear issue.
The two Ministers took note of the steady advances in bilateral ties, as demonstrated by constructive dialogue between government officials on various levels; the growth of substantive cooperation, such as in trade and shipbuilding; and the increase in people-to-people exchanges facilitated by the entry into effect of the bilateral Agreement on the Mutual Abolition of Visa Requirements. With the year 2015 marking the 25th anniversary of the ROK-Russia diplomatic relations, they agreed to hold diverse events in commemoration of the occasion.
☞Full Text of the Article * Source:
http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/ (ROK Foreign Ministry's Website) 
