1. Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Park Yong min held the 11th High-level Policy Consultation between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) together with Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards of the IAEA Massimo Aparo at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the morning on January 26, 2023.

o The ROK-IAEA High-level Policy Consultation that has been held on an annual basis since 2013 is a strategic communication channel between the ROK and the IAEA. Both sides have used the consultation as a venue for discussing current IAEA safeguard issues and ways to enhance mutual cooperation. 

2. During the consultation, both sides discussed cooperation in strengthening the IAEA’s readiness to verify North Korea’s nuclear program, reviewed the safeguards implementation in the ROK and discussed ways to expand cooperation in the area, and exchanged views on key developments and future priorities for IAEA safeguards. 

3. Deputy Minister Park appreciated that both sides were able to discuss in further detail cooperation on safeguards for ensuring the peaceful uses of nuclear energy through the consultation after the successful visit by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, in December last year. 

o Deputy Director General Aparo noted that the IAEA is maintaining its enhanced readiness to play an essential role in verifying North Korea’s nuclear program, and that the IAEA’s safeguards measures have been implemented smoothly to ensure peaceful nuclear activities in the ROK. 

4. Both sides agreed that the consultation served as a good opportunity for enhancing understanding and strengthening cooperation on the current safeguards issues and agreed to continue the consultation.