U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and Cho Tae-yul, South Korea's vice minister for foreign affairs, recently created the High Level Bilateral Commission (HLBC), on which they will serve as co-chairs.
The commission was formed as part of the agreement for Cooperation Between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (U.S.-ROK 123 Agreement).
HLBC will act as a liaison between both nations on nuclear issues, including the promotion of nuclear exports and export-control cooperation, the management of spent nuclear fuel, nuclear fuel supply issues and nuclear security. The commission's first meeting is set for April 14 in Seoul.
“The United States and the Republic of Korea share over 30 years of close cooperation on civil nuclear energy," Sherwood-Randall said in a statement. "The creation of the HLBC reaffirms our nations’ deep commitment to our joint efforts on nuclear safety and builds on our history of mutually beneficial collaboration in this area.”