The signing ceremony for extension of the IAEA-RCARO Practical Arrangements was held on 15 October 2020. Due to the travel restrictions imposed under the Covid-19 pandemic, the ceremony was held virtually between the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna and Deajeon, Republic of Korea, where the RCARO is located.

In 2017, the IAEA and the RCARO initially signed the 3-year Practical Arrangements on cooperation in the performance of secretariat duties under the 2017 RCA. Since then, the RCARO actively assisted the IAEA in preparation of RCA policy meetings, including meetings of the National RCA Representatives, and that of the RCA Annual Reports through communication with RCA stakeholders. The close cooperation between the two parties has been recognized to have contributed to successful arrangement of the RCA meetings and dissemination of information produced under the RCA Programme to the Government Parties.

As the initial Practical Arrangements ended last September, the IAEA and the RCARO signed the extension of the Practical Arrangements for another three years. It is expected that the two parties will put more intense efforts into assisting the GPs with effective performance of secretariat duties and seeking for potential collaborative activities that could support the development of the RCA.