First Vice International Minister Park Yoon-joo, left, poses with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau forward of their talks on the State Division in Washington, D.C., Monday. Courtesy of Ministry of International Affairs
South Korea and the US have agreed to swiftly launch working teams for follow-up negotiations on the latest summit agreements, together with Seoul’s plans to construct nuclear-powered submarines and pursue civil uranium enrichment rights, the overseas ministry mentioned Tuesday.
First Vice International Minister Park Yoon-joo shared the necessity with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau throughout their talks in Washington on Monday (native time), the primary high-level follow-up dialogue for the reason that launch of the joint reality sheet on Nov. 14.
“The vice minister and the deputy secretary agreed on the necessity to swiftly provoke sectoral working teams to make sure the swift and thorough implementation of follow-up measures in key areas, corresponding to nuclear vitality, shipbuilding and nuclear-powered submarines,” the ministry mentioned in a launch.
“Vice Minister Park requested a swift initiation of talks between Seoul and Washington on the civil uranium enrichment and spent gas reprocessing capabilities,” it mentioned.
Landau, in flip, mentioned the 2 nations “ought to proceed to speak carefully on the matter,” in response to the ministry readout.
The joint reality sheet lays out the commitments on commerce, funding, safety and different points made in the course of the two latest summits between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in August and October.
Within the doc, the U.S. states assist for the method that can result in South Korea’s civil uranium enrichment and spent gas reprocessing for peaceable use, according to their present bilateral nuclear vitality pact and topic to U.S. authorized necessities.
The U.S. has additionally given approval for South Korea to construct nuclear-powered assault submarines and dedicated to advancing necessities to allow these efforts, together with avenues to supply gas.
Below the bilateral 123 Settlement, South Korea could enrich uranium for civil functions or reprocess spent gas solely with U.S. consent, following bilateral consultations in accordance with treaties and different laws governing each nations. The settlement is seen as successfully barring Seoul from finishing up these actions.
Consideration has been targeted on how the allies will transfer ahead with implementing the very fact sheet agreements, particularly regarding uranium enrichment and spent gas reprocessing capabilities.
The 2 sides additionally agreed to work collectively in order that the follow-up talks on the nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding cooperation might proceed in earnest, the ministry mentioned.
Park additionally defined to his counterpart Seoul’s efforts to implement its reality sheet commitments and requested the U.S. to take corresponding measures, together with reducing the U.S. tariffs on South Korean items.
Relating to the U.S. visa system for South Korean traders, Park famous substantive progress with the launch of a devoted visa desk for Korean companies, and requested Landau to proceed being attentive to guarantee their clean entry into the U.S.
Talking to reporters shortly after the talks, Park indicated that every facet will designate officers liable for the follow-up reality sheet negotiations between the related authorities businesses.
“The U.S. will assign its representatives, and we’ll create our personal job drive to coordinate with them,” he mentioned.
Park additionally met individually with officers from the State Division dealing with Korea affairs and the White Home Nationwide Safety Council to debate follow-up steps after the summits and points associated to North Korea, the ministry mentioned.
In a separate readout, the U.S. State Division mentioned that the 2 sides mentioned the implementation of the joint reality sheet, together with the commitments to modernize the alliance and shipbuilding cooperation.
“They mentioned the implementation of the U.S.-ROK Joint Reality Sheet, which incorporates modernizing the U.S.-ROK Alliance — the linchpin of peace, safety, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and all through the Indo-Pacific area for greater than 70 years,” mentioned Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson.
ROK is brief for South Korea’s official identify, the Republic of Korea.
“Deputy Secretary Landau welcomed the ROK’s unprecedented dedication to funding in American manufacturing throughout key strategic sectors, corresponding to shipbuilding … reiterated that Korean funding contributes considerably to U.S. reindustrialization efforts.”
