On 4 September 2019 ISTC hosted a delegation from the Ministry of Unification (MoU) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in its Main Office in Nur-Sultan.

The delegation was led by Mr. Donghyuk Kwon, Director, MoU Peace Policy Division, former Assistant Secretary to the President at Office of the President of the Republic of Korea. It included also MOU officials, members of the Korean Embassy in Nur-Sultan, as well as scientists - Dr. Jinso An, Korea Institute of Nuclear Non-proliferation and Control and Dr. CHUN Geun Lee, Senior Research fellow, Division of Global Innovation Strategy, Science and Technology Research Institute.

ISTC Deputy Executive Director Aidyn Turebayev debriefed the guests about ISTC’s mission, achievements and priorities, and the experience the organization has acquired through its contribution to denuclearization of Kazakhstan and other CIS countries. By linking such scientists and researchers with their colleagues from other parts of the world, ISTC facilitated their participation in international projects and their professional and career development.

During the meeting the sides noted with satisfaction that bilateral cooperation in non-proliferation was among the notable outcomes of Korean President Moon Jae-in’s state visit to Kazakhstan in April 2019  and will probably remain on the agenda of the upcoming visit of Foreign Minister Atamkulov of Kazakhstan to Seoul.

The interlocutors noted with satisfaction that Korea is an important and consistent ISTC State Party, with growing prospects for further active participation in project funding and other activities of the organization. Until now Korea has funded 59 ISTC projects for more than USD 7 million.

ISTC CFO Sonya Vekstein; and Kamen Velichkov, SPM and DA, also took part in the meeting