U.S. and South Korea Begin Working-Level Talks on Nuclear Submarines, Uranium Enrichment and Reprocessing Rights

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo opened the first round of working-level talks in Seoul on June 2 to carry out security agreements reached at an October summit between President Lee Jae Myung and President Donald Trump. The two officials shook hands at the foreign ministry before the start of the two-day consultations.

U.S. delegation; Park leads the South Korean side, which also includes officials from the presidential office and the defense, science and industry ministries. ” She also cited the allies’ shared history and milestones over more than 70 years, adding that she looked forward to further deepening and modernizing bilateral cooperation and expected continued progress in the years ahead.

The agenda centers on provisions in a bilateral joint fact sheet issued after the October summit. Those provisions include Seoul’s effort to build nuclear-powered submarines, obtain the right to enrich uranium, reprocess spent nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes, and expand shipbuilding cooperation.

Yonhap reported that the talks mark the first working-level meetings dedicated to implementing the October agreements.