Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan held a meeting with his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith on April 17 on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan in Tokyo.

Noting with satisfaction the development of close cooperative relations through active high-level officials’ exchange between the two countries, the two foreign ministers said that they will pursue the Korea-Australia free trade agreement, boosting bilateral relations in a more comprehensive manner.

Foreign Minister Yu reviewed Australia’s interest in and support for the international community’s unified countermeasure against North Korea’s recent long-range rocket launch. Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Smith said that Australia will work closely with Korea for the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula, making continued contribution in that respect.

The two foreign ministers said that they will closely cooperate in strengthening peace and stability in the region, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.