< 2nd Korea-U.S. Civil Space Dialogue Held > (April 27)
 - Issues on space exploration, satellites, space environment, public awareness and promotion, space policy highlighted during event

   The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) held the second "Korea-U.S. Civil Space Dialogue" from April 27 to 29. Korean agencies present at the event included the MSIP as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Radio Research Agency, Korea Meteorological Administration, National Institute of Environmental Research, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Korea Institute of Radiological Medical Sciences, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology and Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity; from the American side, representatives from the Department of State, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the American embassy in Korea.
  Following discussions that took place during the Korea-U.S. summit last October on establishing a space cooperation agreement and holding the second Korea-U.S. space dialogue, the two sides made preparations for the signing of a formal agreement; with the text of the agreement finalized and ratification procedures complete in both countries, representatives from the two governments officially signed the agreement on April 27 during the main session of the Korea-U.S. Civil Space Dialogue.
   The meeting represents the sole dialogue between Korea and the U.S. for civilian space development and served as a prime opportunity for reviewing the partnerships between agencies in both countries in space-related projects and explore future avenues of cooperation.
  The event opened with the main dialogue meeting held at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul on April 27, followed by a visit on the 28th to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). On the 29th, delegates visited the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) and took part in an event marking the start of the International Cooperative Air Quality Field Study in Korea (KORUS-AQ).
  During the main conference on the first day, discussions took place on space exploration, development and utilization of satellites, space environments, promoting public awareness of space-related issues, and space policy. Working-level meetings were held during the second day's visit to KARI on partnerships for lunar exploration and utilizing the International Space Station. On the third day, participants of the dialogue visited the National Meterological Satellite Center of the KMA to hold discussions on using weather satellites and cooperating on development projects; representatives of the two delegations also took part in the ceremony to kick off the KORUS-AQ project, a collaboration between Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research and NASA that will run for six weeks from May 2, a project initiated as a follow-up to an agreement made during last year's summit.
  The Ministry plans to accelerate partnership projects with the U.S. by building on the success of the second dialogue meeting, announcing that "various projects that have been taking place between Korean and American agencies will be integrated into a systematic and stable framework under the 'Korea-U.S. Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer Space for Civil and Peaceful Purposes' and the Civil Space Dialogue, and the results of the meeting will be further carried through in order to ensure they have positive and tangible effects on our space development initiatives."

  The two sides agreed to hold the third dialogue meeting in Washington, D.C., with the specific date to be finalized through further coordination between the Ministry and the State Department.