US Delegation to Meet in Seoul June 2-3 to Discuss Follow-up Measures

A US government delegation, led by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, will hold a meeting in Seoul from June 2 to 3 to discuss implementation measures from last year's summit.

Key agenda items are expected to include the construction of nuclear-powered submarines, securing authority for uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, and cooperation in the shipbuilding industry. Discussions on nuclear submarines and the revision of the Atomic Energy Agreement are set to be addressed at the meeting.

South Korea will be represented by a pan-governmental delegation comprising officials from relevant ministries and agencies, including the Presidential National Security Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. The US delegation will include officials from relevant departments such as the White House National Security Council (NSC), the State Department, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense.

The government's stance is that since security cooperation anticipated earlier this year was postponed, this inaugural meeting should not be merely a formal introductory session but should immediately proceed to working-level talks to commence substantive negotiations. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated, "Moving directly into working-level talks is a shared stance by both sides."