He attended the session here, joined by Seoul's Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Kang Jeong-sik, to address bilateral cooperation and the North Korea issue.

Aparo emphasized the importance of partnerships with South Korea.

"The ROK is a very important partner for the agency not only in the safeguard affairs but in all areas of our work for the peaceful use of nuclear technology," he said, using the initialism for South Korea's formal name, the Republic of Korea.

Kang took note of the timing of this week's consultations, citing three inter-Korean summit talks and an unprecedented meeting between the leaders of the US and North Korea earlier this year, as well as follow-up negotiations.

"At this political juncture, high-level policy consultations with the IAEA, which is the international organization specialized in inspections and verification has great significance," he said.

Keen attention is being paid to whether Pyongyang and Washington will have high-level talks this week to lay the groundwork for a second summit between President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-un. (Yonhap)