South Korea will soon create a Foreign Ministry bureau to implement a revised nuclear energy cooperation pact with the United States and nonproliferation issues, officials said Wednesday.
The allies agreed in April to amend their bilateral nuclear accord to allow Seoul to expand its civil nuclear energy programs. It is expected to take effect by early next year if no objections are raised by the U.S. Congress.
The new bureau, comprised of two divisions, will be headed by a director-general-level official and be tasked with addressing nuclear and nonproliferation affairs.
It will especially be responsible for ensuring the deal’s implementation over the next 20 years and coordinating high-level bilateral talks on South Korea’s plans to produce low-enriched uranium and seek ways to reprocess spent nuclear fuel.
“What’s important is that we established a route to pursue (these aims),” said a government official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Real negotiations to carry them out are just beginning.”
Earlier in the day, the ministry announced advance legislation notice on the scheme to set up the bureau. (Yonhap)
