The meeting was to allow "foreign ministers to discuss ways to increase the effectiveness of the global sanctions regime in support of a rules-based international order.

"[2] The meeting was announced after North Korea tested its latest long range intercontinental ballistic missile in late November, but was held amid signs that tensions on the Korean peninsula easing with North and South Korea holding formal talks in January for the first time in two years and North Korea agreeing to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in a unified team with the South.

[2] Invited parties include: "South Korea, Japan, India, Britain, France and other countries who fought in the Korean War of 1950-53.

"[3] with foreign ministers and senior officials from 20 nations actually attending the meeting.

[1] Notable countries that had not been invited were China, North Korea and Russia.