Minister Yoo, Head of Korea’s Delegation to the 68th General Assembly of the International Atomic Energy Agency
Sharing the status of nuclear power policy and activities… Condemning North Korea’s illegal nuclear and missile programs
Minister of Science and ICT Yoo Sang-im announced the government’s position on international issues such as Japan’s discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima and North Korea’s nuclear security threats at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Assembly.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 17th that Minister Yoo gave a keynote speech as the chief representative of Korea at the 68th IAEA General Conference held in Vienna, Austria from the 16th to the 20th.
The IAEA is an international organization under the UN established in July 1957 to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Korea is a founding member state. Approximately 2,800 people attended this general meeting, including government representatives, including ministerial and vice-ministerial officials from 178 IAEA member states.
Minister Yoo, who took the podium for the keynote speech on the first day of the general meeting, emphasized, “Nuclear power is emerging as a key means of achieving the goal of carbon neutrality,” and “The development of small modular reactors (SMRs), which not only have dramatically improved economic feasibility and safety but can also be flexibly combined with renewable energy, will greatly contribute to promoting the transition to sustainable energy.”
Korea is working with the private sector to develop technology and conduct demonstrations to quickly commercialize SMRs. It is also working on establishing a new model to create a nuclear energy ecosystem centered on SMRs, including establishing new regulatory standards and training personnel.
Minister Yoo said, “I hope to share our long-accumulated experience in operating safe nuclear reactors and the next-generation nuclear power technology and know-how with IAEA member states.”
Regarding the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima, he requested that “the IAEA continue to conduct effective monitoring and transparently disclose information so that it can be done safely, scientifically, and objectively in compliance with international law and standards.”
In addition, we called for an immediate halt to the expansion of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea that threatens the peace and stability of the international community, and expressed our government’s will to strongly condemn North Korea’s illegal nuclear and missile programs.
Minister Yoo plans to meet with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi on the second day of the General Assembly and request that Korean experts continue to participate in the IAEA’s monitoring of contaminated water discharges. He also plans to ask for support so that capable Korean nuclear experts can advance to the IAEA and contribute to the IAEA and the international community.
During this general meeting, Minister Yoo plans to discuss cooperation measures for advanced nuclear reactors such as SMRs by meeting with senior representatives from major nuclear power cooperation countries and potential export target countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Morocco, Poland, and Austria, and strengthen the foundation for cooperation through joint research and human resource development.
In addition, the Ministry of Science and ICT will operate a Korean pavilion under the theme of ‘Korea’s SMR design and manufacturing capabilities’ at the technology exhibition, a side event of the 68th IAEA General Conference. It plans to showcase Korea’s excellent SMR design and manufacturing capabilities and marine SMR technology currently under development to government delegations from 178 IAEA member states.
Minister Yoo said, “Our country has been operating nuclear power stably for over 60 years and has world-class technological capabilities,” and added, “We will enhance Korea’s status as a nuclear powerhouse by expanding nuclear power plant exports and strengthening international cooperation.”
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2024-09-18 04:25:22