1. Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ham Sang Wook, together with Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Massimo Aparo, held the 9th Republic of Korea (ROK)-IAEA High-Level Policy Consultation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a face-to-face format on the morning of November 3.

2. During the Consultation, the two sides discussed ways of cooperation in strengthening the IAEA’s readiness to verify the North Korean nuclear program and exchanged views on key issues, including ways to step up the ROK-IAEA cooperation, the implementation of the IAEA safeguards amid the COVID-19 situation, and the enforcement of the IAEA safeguards by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

° The two sides noted the smooth implementation of IAEA safeguards for the ROK’s peaceful nuclear activities even amid the COVID-19 situation and agreed to continue close cooperation between the ROK and the IAEA.

3. At the Consultation, the ROK side stressed that the issue of contaminated water at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is a grave matter that affects the safety and environment of Japan’s neighboring countries and the international community as a whole, and asked the IAEA to play an active role in ensuring transparency and verifying safety throughout the entire process of preparing for the disposal of the contaminated water and its release by the Japanese government.

° The IAEA side mentioned that it well understands the significance of the issue of the Fukushima contaminated water, adding that the IAEA will continue to be engaged throughout the course of the disposal of the contaminated water, including by holding close consultations with relevant countries.  

4. The Consultation holds significance in that the ROK carried out its first person-to-person diplomatic activity toward the international organization with the top authority in nuclear verification and nuclear energy, despite the COVID-19 situation.

° The ROK-IAEA High-Level Policy Consultation is a channel for strategic communication between the two sides that has convened on an annual basis since 2013. The ROK government will continue to strengthen its cooperation with the IAEA, including through this Consultation channel.