Seoul: The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will visit South Korea next week for consultations on nuclear energy, North Korea, and other issues, the foreign ministry announced Thursday. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is scheduled for a two-day visit to Seoul starting Tuesday, during which he will meet with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and other officials, as confirmed by ministry spokesperson Park Il in a press briefing.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Grossi's visit aligns with South Korea's efforts to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and secure the rights to uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing for civilian purposes under a deal with the United States. The discussions between Cho and Grossi are expected to cover a range of topics of mutual interest, such as the situation in the Middle East, North Korea's nuclear issues, and cooperation on nuclear safety technology, as stated by Park.

The meeting is anticipated to foster the peaceful use of nuclear energy within the international community, leveraging South Korea's robust nuclear energy capabilities. The acquisition process for nuclear-powered submarines will necessitate Seoul signing a separate agreement with the IAEA to comply with inspection requirements and other safeguards, alongside its agreement with Washington.