Press Briefing
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Soosuk Lim
December 8, 2022 14:30 KST
Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi will make a four-day visit to Korea from December 13 at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin.
On December 13, Foreign Minister Park will meet with the Director General to discuss such key issues as the North Korean nuclear issue and the contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, and ways for Korea-IAEA cooperation.
During his visit to Korea, Director General Grossi will attend the completion ceremony of Shin-Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 on December 14.
On December 15, at the invitation of the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Director General will join the opening ceremony of the International Symposium Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the IAEA’s RCA Regional Office. On the same day, he will also deliver a special lecture to nuclear power engineering students from across the country at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and then visit the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute.
Director General Grossi’s visit to Korea will mark the first by an IAEA Director General in five years since the one in 2017 by then Director General Yukiya Amano.
The forthcoming visit is expected to serve as a good opportunity to seek ways for Korea to contribute to the international community with its outstanding nuclear energy capabilities and enhance its cooperation with the IAEA amid attention being paid to the role of nuclear power for response to climate change and energy security.
Secondly and lastly, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Dohoon will visit the United States from December 11 to 14 to attend the 7th Republic of Korea-United States Senior Economic Dialogue (SED) in Washington, DC, on December 12.
In the upcoming SED, Vice Minister Lee and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez will discuss ways for ROK-U.S. cooperation in the areas of supply chains; science, health and technology; and development and infrastructure, including economic issues such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
The Vice Minister will also meet with other members of the U.S. administration and Congress to discuss economic issues such as the IRA.
(A question-and-answer session followed.)