Frank Rose, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s principal deputy administrator, recently spent a week in East Asia where he visited counterparts in Japan and South Korea.
The trip, from July 18 to July 24 “aimed to strengthen bilateral ties, regional nuclear security, and enable discussions of how best to address challenges in the evolving geopolitical landscape in the region,” the NNSA said in a statement published Aug. 11.
In Japan, Rose participated in a series of high-level meetings with officials. The discussions revolved around NNSA’s mission and capabilities to facilitate defense, nuclear security, the climate crisis, and the challenges posed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the agency said.
Rose met with Japan’s Cabinet Office Director General for Nuclear Disaster Prevention Matsushita Hitoshi, and “highlighted the U.S. commitment to the role of nuclear power in addressing the climate crisis. The two discussed the safety and security challenges associated with increasing nuclear power.”
Rose also met with Japan Atomic Energy Agency President Koguchi Masanori and discussed the security environment, regional threats, and emerging technologies. Rose expressed appreciation for Japan’s support in removing and minimizing the use of highly enriched uranium and reaffirmed NNSA’s partnership on nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response.
Rose continued bilateral meetings in the Republic of Korea with key officials and discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea’s expansion of nuclear capabilities and China’s nuclear buildup.
While in Korea, Rose also visited U.S. Forces Korea and met with Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. John Weidner to discuss NNSA’s support to the command and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, among other issues.
