It was many years in the works but South Korea and the United States have finally put pen to paper on their updated nuclear energy cooperation pact.
The deal still needs to undergo a lengthy review process by the U.S. Congress, but it's expected to take effect by the end of this year.
Hwang Sung-hee reports.
Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz signed the revised civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement on Monday in Washington, ending four years of arduous negotiations.
While the new deal -- updated from the existing 1974 pact -- still bans Seoul from reprocessing and enrichment, it allows Korea to research a new technology for recycling spent nuclear fuel and to make low-level enriched uranium with U.S. consent.
The agreement awaits approval from the U.S. Congress, but both sides said the deal strengthens their alliance.
"Together with the mutual defense treaty of 1954 and the Korea-U.S. FTA of 2012, this nuclear agreement will be another key pillar of our alliance."
"The U.S.-Korea partnership is an absolute anchor for peace and stability."
In Washington, Korea's top diplomat also met with U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice to discuss the possible rescheduling of President Park Geun-hye's visit to the country.
The Korean leader postponed her trip last week to handle the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, in Korea.
Yun said Seoul will push for a summit with U.S. President Barack Obama within this year, at the earliest possible time.
Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News.
