1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Taeho, chair of the Republic of Korea to the ROK-U.S. High Level Bilateral Commission (HLBC) on nuclear energy, had a virtual meeting with Deputy Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes, his U.S. HLBC counterpart, on October 16 and discussed current issues concerning the ROK-U.S. cooperation on nuclear energy and ways to step up strategic partnership between the two countries in the field.

° The meeting, the first one between the co-chairs since Deputy Secretary Menezes took office in August, was held in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 situation.

° The virtual meeting brought together relevant government agencies of the two countries that are taking part in the ROK-U.S. High Level Bilateral Commission -- the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Science and ICT of the ROK; and the Department of Energy, and the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S.

2. The two countries shared the understanding that, amid the growing strategic significance of the ROK-U.S. cooperation on nuclear energy, they should continue to deepen and develop cooperation in accordance with the revised ROK-U.S. Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. The area of cooperation includes the overseas export of nuclear power plants, nuclear energy R&D, and nuclear security. Both sides agreed to continue close consultations regarding these important topics.