US-Korea Director-Level Meeting on Maritime, Environmental, and Arctic Issues Held... Exchange of Views on Fukushima Nuclear Wastewater and Climate Change

Discussion on Hosting the 2022 'Marine Waste Conference' in Korea

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 16th, Jeong Gi-yong, Director General of the Climate Environment Science Diplomacy Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Woo Dong-sik, Director of International Deep-sea Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, held a director-level consultation on marine and environmental issues with Evan Bloom, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 17th.

During the consultation, both sides exchanged views on various issues including △marine debris △Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing △marine environmental conservation.

Both parties introduced their respective efforts to reduce marine debris and discussed the possibility of hosting the 7th International Marine Debris Conference, the largest international event related to marine debris, in Korea in 2022. They also shared a strong mutual commitment to reducing marine debris.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "We requested cooperation from the U.S. Department of State to expedite the Preliminary Positive Certification Determination process for the removal of the U.S. preliminary IUU fishing country designation," and added, "the representatives of both countries exchanged opinions on various marine environmental conservation issues, including the Fukushima nuclear wastewater issue, marine and climate change."

After the meeting, Kwon Se-jung, Arctic Cooperation Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a working lunch with Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Evan Bloom, sharing the Arctic policies of both countries and engaging in in-depth discussions on ways to strengthen Korea-U.S. Arctic cooperation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "We explained the bilateral polar affairs implementation system and exchanged views on holding a Korea-U.S. bilateral Arctic Council meeting to discuss comprehensive cooperation including the Arctic Council, Arctic scientific research, and Arctic shipping routes."

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