Washington: US and South Korean experts
began talks aimed at concluding a new agreement on sharing civil nuclear energy technology, once the current accord expires in 2014, the State Department said Wednesday.
During their meeting in Washington yesterday the two
sides outlined their negotiating positions and discussed when
and where to hold further consultations for a new agreement,
it said in a statement.
The talks were headed by Cho Hyun, the South Korean
deputy foreign minister for multilateral and global affairs
and Robert Einhorn, the US special advisor for
non-proliferation and arms control, it added.
"Both sides expect the new agreement to ensure the
continuance and further development of the robust bilateral
cooperation they have enjoyed in atomic energy for more than
fifty years," the statement said.
They also expect it to "further contribute to the
strengthening of their alliance by enhancing cooperation in
nuclear research and development, industry and commerce in the
future," it added.
"The two sides also discussed a proposed joint study of
nuclear power reactor spent fuel disposition options,
including pyroprocessing," the statement said.
"They agreed that technical experts would meet soon to
work out the scope of the study and the venue and schedule for
completing it."
The current agreement Concerning Civil Uses of Atomic
Energy, which was adopted in 1972 and amended in 1974, will
expire in early 2014.
PTI
