4. In the plenary session of the FEALAC meeting and the bilateral meetings as well as on various other occasions, Minister Kang brought attention to the grave situation on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of the recent ballistic missile launches by North Korea, and spoke in detail about the ROK government’s efforts to achieve the denuclearization and build a permanent peace on the Peninsula while responding sternly to the North Korean provocations. ° The FEALAC member states present at the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, expressing in response deep concern over the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula of late, voiced strong support for the ROK government’s efforts to build a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula and achieve denuclearization. 5. With regard to Korean Peninsula issues in particular, FEALAC, for the first time since its founding, specifically referring to North Korea by its name in the Busan Declaration, expressed in the document concern over the North’s repeated provocations, including the ballistic missile launch on August 29. Accordingly, the Busan Declaration carries special significance in terms of sending a tough message to the North. ° The member states expressed support for the international community’s common goal of achieving a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, reaffirming the need to comply with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Taking note of the ROK government’s initiative to improve inter-Korean relations, to relieve tensions, and to establish a permanent peace on the Peninsula, they expressed support for the efforts to that end. ° The Busan Declaration is seen to have been adopted to highlight the urgent need for global responses to the growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, based on the shared view that peace on the Korean Peninsula is essential for peace and stability in not only Northeast Asia but also Latin America and the rest of the international community; and to reaffirm the international community’s attention to and support for the ROK’s policy toward the North. 6. The ROK has been contributing to the development of FEALAC, the only intergovernmental consultative body between East Asia and Latin America, by serving as a Regional Coordinator for East Asia and chair from 2004 till 2005, and from 2015 till 2017; operating the Cyber Secretariat since 2011; chairing Working Groups and leading the activities of the Vision Group from 2010 till 2013. As chair of the Busan meeting, Minister Kang exercised leadership in diplomacy for regional cooperation by drawing tangible results that will help FEALAC take a leap forward. ° The participating countries commended the ROK for its contribution to and its leading role in the development of FEALAC at the Busan meeting. Also commending the work of the ROK-hosted and ROK-operated FEALAC Cyber Secretariat, they voiced hope that the ROK will continue expanding its role in that regard. 3/4