1. “The Republic of Korea–United States of America Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer Space for Civil and Peaceful Purposes,” signed on April 27, was formally brought into force on November 3.

2. The two countries, recognizing the importance of space cooperation at their bilateral summit talks in October 2015, concluded the Agreement as a legal and institutional framework for space cooperation. With the entry into force of the Agreement, the first step has been taken to all-out space cooperation between the two countries.

° The Agreement, the first such intergovernmental framework agreement on space cooperation the US has concluded with an Asian country, carries great significance in that the ROK-US alliance, as a firm, comprehensive strategic alliance, has evolved in new frontiers of cooperation.

3. The Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions for civil space cooperation for peaceful purposes in various areas, including space science, earth observation and space exploration. It also contains articles on such administrative matters as the implementing agencies, the transfer of goods and technical data, the intellectual property rights, and customs clearance.

4. Following the Agreement’s entry into force, the agreements and memoranda of understanding to be concluded between the implementing agencies will be considered to be those within the framework of the Agreement, thereby drastically streamlining relevant agencies’ review processes and accelerating space cooperation between the two countries.

5. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US are expected to conclude an agreement on Moon exploration in the near future.

6. The ROK and the US held their second Civil Space Dialogue in April, formed in May a research group on solar physics with researchers from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, and NASA, and worked closely together on other relevant matters. The Agreement is expected to accelerate such cooperation efforts.

7. With the Agreement brought into force, the ROK and the US are expected to see their ties further advance not only in military, security, economy, trade and people-to-people exchanges -- areas where their relations have matured -- but also in the field of space.


* unofficial translation