Deputy Secretary of Energy Menezes and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee promise close collaboration between U.S. and ROK

WASHINGTON – The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) announced today that Deputy Secretary Mark W. Menezes and Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho held a productive introductory meeting on October 16, 2020. 

Deputy Secretary Menezes and Vice Minister Lee discussed a variety of nonproliferation and nuclear security topics.  Of particular note, the Deputy Secretary and Vice Minister agreed that the United States and the Republic of Korea should collaborate to promote joint U.S.-ROK civil nuclear commercial partnerships.  .

Deputy Secretary Menezes noted that “The United States and the Republic of Korea have a long history of partnering together on important nonproliferation and nuclear security issues.  Ensuring that the United States and the Republic of Korea continue that partnership is a key step toward promoting growth in both the U.S. and ROK civil nuclear sectors.”

NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Dr. Brent Park further stated that “The partnership between the United States and the Republic of Korea could be used to encourage countries to follow nuclear nonproliferation norms.”    

The DOE/NNSA and its counterparts in the Republic of Korea have a long history of partnering together on a range nonproliferation and nuclear security issues including holding the 4th meeting of the Nuclear Security Working Group in September.  DOE/NNSA and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control (KINAC) have also formed a strong partnership at KINAC’s International Nuclear Security Academy and have jointly developed courses on physical security, safeguards, and export controls. 

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