IAEA "Will Oversee Entire Process of Japan's Fukushima Contaminated Water Disposal"... Korea-IAEA High-Level Policy Dialogue Held

Discussion on Strengthening Korea-IAEA Cooperation and Implementation of IAEA Safeguards on Iran

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 3rd, Ham Sang-wook, Director-General for Multilateral Diplomacy Coordination at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held the 9th ROK-IAEA High-level Policy Consultation in person at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Massimo Aparo, Deputy Director General for Safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Through this ROK-IAEA High-level Policy Consultation, both sides discussed cooperation measures to strengthen the IAEA's preparedness for North Korea nuclear verification, exchanged views on key issues such as strengthening cooperation between ROK and IAEA, implementation of IAEA safeguards under the COVID-19 pandemic, and implementation of IAEA safeguards on Iran.

Both parties evaluated that despite the COVID-19 situation, the IAEA safeguards on South Korea's peaceful nuclear activities are being carried out smoothly, and agreed to continue close cooperation between ROK and IAEA going forward.

In particular, on this occasion, the Korean side emphasized that the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water issue is a significant matter affecting the safety and environment of Japan's neighboring countries and the international community as a whole, and requested that the Japanese government ensure transparency and safety verification by the IAEA throughout the entire process of preparing and discharging the contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear power plant.

In response, the IAEA side stated that they fully understand the importance of the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water issue and that the IAEA plans to continue its involvement throughout the entire process of contaminated water disposal, including close consultations with relevant countries.

This consultation is highly significant as it was the first face-to-face diplomacy conducted with an international organization holding the highest authority in nuclear verification and nuclear fields despite the COVID-19 situation. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "The ROK-IAEA High-level Policy Consultation has been held annually since 2013 as a strategic communication channel between both sides, and our government plans to continue strengthening cooperation with the IAEA through consultations and other means."

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