President Moon Jae-in spoke by phone to U.S. President Donald Trump from 11:00 to 11:25 this morning. During their telephone discussion, the two leaders agreed to step up cooperation between Korea and the United States in response to the recent consecutive North Korean nuclear and missile provocations.

The two heads of state sternly condemned the North for yet another missile provocation despite unified and resolute messages released from the international community against its sixth nuclear test, including through the adoption of a United Nations Security Council resolution.

The two leaders also reached an agreement to work with the international community based on the enhanced Korea-U.S. cooperation to put more powerful and effective sanctions and pressure on North Korea so that it could recognize that more of its provocations would only lead to further diplomatic isolation and economic pressure resulting in the first steps to its downfall.

To this end, the two leaders shared a common understanding that it was crucial to implement the U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions, including Resolution 2375, more thoroughly in close cooperation with the international community. Based on this, they agreed to continue cooperation and consultations.

President Moon noted that it was necessary to continuously strengthen the South`s autonomous deterrence and defense capabilities as well as the ROK-U.S. combined defense abilities to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula while effectively responding to the North`s continued provocations. Expressing his appreciation to his counterpart for showing interest in and working together on amending the Korea-U.S. missile guidelines and deploying state-of-the-art weapons, the President said he looked forward to working more closely in this connection.

In response, President Trump said he fully supported the Korea-U.S. alliance and would continue to provide necessary assistance and cooperate in a bid to reinforce it.

The two leaders said they would meet again at the U.N. General Assembly this week and discuss various ways to respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations and threats and to further strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance.