South Korea elected as new president of IAEA's 68th General Conference

South Korea has been elected to hold the presidency of the 68th General Conference of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Ham Sang-wook, South Korea's ambassador to Austria, center, is elected as president at the 68th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria, on Monday. [YONHAP]

South Korea has been elected to hold the presidency of the 68th General Conference of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Ham Sang-wook, South Korea's ambassador to Austria, will hold the office during the IAEA conference, which is being held in Vienna, Austria, until Friday, the ministry said in a release.

The General Conference elects a president at the beginning of each annual session, following consultations among member states before the conference. Last year, Thailand held the position.

This year's conference will address major global security issues, including North Korea's nuclear program, nuclear safety and security in Ukraine and Iran's nuclear issues, it said.

Since joining the IAEA as a founding member in 1957, this is South Korea's second time holding the presidency of the General Conference. The first was in 1989, during the 33rd session.

Yonhap