1. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme Information Day will take place at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul on November 26, with Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Shin Dong-ik of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Emerging Security Challenges Sorin Ducaru in presence.

2. Through its SPS Programme, NATO encourages cooperation among NATO member states and partner countries in science and technology, and research and development, regarding responses to emerging security challenges, including counter-terrorism, cyber defense, energy security, and responses to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) attacks.

o Under the Programme, NATO provides budget support to experts of NATO member states and partner countries for implementation of joint projects for several years, hosts workshops and offers opportunities for education and training.

3. The NATO SPS Programme Information Day is an event to introduce the Programme to the experts of NATO member states and partner countries. This is the first time for the event to take place in the Republic of Korea.

o The SPS Programme Information Day will be attended by ROK experts, officials from relevant ministries, and representatives from diplomatic missions of NATO member countries in the ROK.

4. At the Information Day, an overview of the NATO SPS Programme will be provided, and participants will discuss a range of issues, including responses to cyber threats; women, peace and security; global security threats and SPS priorities.

5. Since becoming a NATO partner country in 2006, the ROK has continued cooperation with NATO, including by holding the ROK-NATO policy consultations, participating in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2014, and signing the ROK-NATO Individual Partnership Cooperation Program (IPCP) in 2012. The upcoming Information Day is expected to serve as an opportunity to expand cooperation between the ROK and NATO concerning responses to emerging security challenges.


*unofficial translation