President Moon Jae-in spoke on the phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for 30 minutes from 10:40 this morning. It was their fourth telephone conversation.

With a shared understanding of the gravity of the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, the two leaders discussed how Korea and Japan can work together to respond to the North Korean nuclear issue.

They agreed that tough sanctions and pressure should continue to be applied for the sake of the complete dismantlement of the North Korean nuclear and missile programs through close cooperation between Korea and Japan as well as among Korea, the United States and Japan together with the international community while closely monitoring and analyzing any possible nuclear and missile provocations. They were also on the same page on the necessity of resolving the issue ultimately through dialogue and peaceful measures. The two leaders reached an agreement to continue close coordination and consultations between Korea and Japan as well as among Korea, the United States and Japan about the right conditions for such dialogue.

Moreover, the two leaders shared a common understanding that the two countries should become forward-looking, mature partners while bringing historical issues under proper management, including the victims of forced mobilization under Japanese colonialism in Korea.

In closing, the two leaders agreed not only efforts between the two Governments but also a variety of endeavors made by many, including the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians’ Union, would be working favorably toward the advancement of bilateral ties. They concurred on the need to do as much as they could to provide support for such activities. They also looked forward to having many fruitful conversations at a summit on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, in September.