Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Soosuk Lim

March 2, 2023  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Dohoon will visit Austria from March 6 to 7 to attend a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors.

During his visit to Austria, Vice Minister Lee will meet with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and discuss key issues, including the contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the safety of nuclear power plants in Ukraine, and North Korea’s nuclear activities.

Vice Minister Lee will also meet with Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Robert Floyd and IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards Massimo Aparo.

During the upcoming visit, Vice Minister Lee will deliver the Korean government’s position, requesting the IAEA’s thorough examination for the safe disposal of the contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, and hold discussions on the issue.

In addition, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Dohoon will attend the 5th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries to be held in Qatar from March 8 to 9.

The UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries takes place every 10 years to discuss ways for the international community to help the Least Developed Countries achieve sustainable development. At the forthcoming Conference, the Doha Political Declaration will be adopted.

At the Conference, Vice Minister Lee will present the Korean government’s vision as a Global Pivotal State and express the government’s will to provide support to the Least Developed Countries through ODA expansion and other means.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)