Top diplomats of S. Korea, EU discuss ways to deepen relations

SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- Top diplomats of South Korea and the European Union held their first phone conversation Friday to discuss ways to deepen their relations, the foreign ministry here said.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha spoke to the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini for around 15 minutes, according to the ministry. Kang took office earlier this week.

"Mogherini congratulated Kang on her inauguration and proposed having close communication to advance the South Korea-EU relations down the road," the ministry said in a press release.

Kang said that the relations between South Korea and the EU have moved forward beyond bilateral cooperation to a point where they now see it as close to allies. In particular, she hailed their closer economic cooperation based on a free trade agreement signed years ago.

Kang cited the common positions between the two sides' approaches to North Korea, as they both are willing to sternly deal with its provocations but at the same time seeking talks and negotiations, according to the ministry.

The phone conservation was held at the request of the EU, the ministry said.

kokobj@yna.co.kr
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