“We are open to all measures to promptly resume dialogue with North Korea”… Iran and Ukraine are also discussing
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(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Hyo-jung and Kim Kyung-yoon = First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-gun had a phone call with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on the 19th to discuss the Korean Peninsula issue and international issues such as Iran, Ukraine and Myanmar.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while sharing the situation in which North Korea has recently fired missiles in succession, Vice Minister Yang reaffirmed that they are open to all measures for stable management of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and prompt resumption of dialogue with North Korea.
“Deputy Secretary Sherman condemned North Korea’s recent multiple ballistic missile launches in violation of several UN Security Council resolutions,” the State Department issued a separate document and said, “The continued joint efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula We talked about our efforts,” he said.
North Korea has launched ballistic missiles four times this month alone, and the United States has proposed adding sanctions to the UN Security Council’s North Korea Sanctions Committee along with independent sanctions.
The Vice Ministers also discussed Iran, Ukraine and Myanmar issues.
Vice Minister Choi shared the results of his visit to Vienna, Austria, where negotiations on the restoration of the Iran nuclear agreement (JCPOA) were held earlier this month, and suggested that the ROK and the US continue to cooperate to restore the JCPOA and resolve the Iranian frozen funds issue.
Deputy Secretary Sherman also shared the view that a prompt resolution was needed and expressed his appreciation for South Korea’s cooperation.
Korea is not a party to the JCPOA, but in the aftermath of US sanctions on Iran, it is holding about 7 billion dollars (8.3 trillion won) of frozen funds in Iran.
Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Deputy Secretary Sherman explained the recent situation, and Choi supported the US efforts to resolve the situation through dialogue and diplomacy.
According to State Department data, Sherman emphasized the unwavering support of the United States for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and discussed efforts to deter Russia from further military or offensive action.
They also shared deep concerns about the situation in which political instability has continued for a year after the military coup in Myanmar and suggested that we cooperate with the international community for the swift restoration of democracy.
In addition, discussions took place on Korea-U.S. relations and supply chain cooperation, and they decided to continuously work for the development of the alliance by communicating frequently at various levels.
South Korea and the United States had a phone call with their foreign ministers on the 15th. In line with North Korea’s successive launches of ballistic missiles, high-level discussions have been intensively conducted, including calls with the North Korean chief nuclear representative on the 5th and 11th and the assistant secretary of state on the 12th.
heeva@yna.co.kr
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2022/01/19 12:10 Send
