The Washington Nuclear Security Summit was held on April 12-13 with leaders from 47 nations discussing and pledging global cooperation on reducing nuclear warheads and preventing nuclear terrorism. The two-day Summit ended with the issuance of a communique and work plan .

 The communique states the participating countries' commitment to securing nuclear material in four years, while the work plan outlines specific steps on implementing the communique.

 After President Barack Obama declared the opening of the Summit and explained the purpose of the meeting, he designated Korea as the host of the Second Nuclear Security Summit scheduled for 2012. President Lee Myung-bak responded by shaking hands with President Obama and accepting the honor.

 In the first session of the Summit held in the morning, President Lee took the podium as the first presenter to introduce Korea’s measures for protection of nuclear material.

 The United States and other participating nations at the Summit strongly supported Korea as the host of the next Nuclear Security Summit in recognition of Korea's record of operating nuclear power plants without accident for the past 20 years and its utilization of nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

 The Korean government will strengthen international cooperation to successfully host the 2012 Summit where world leaders will reaffirm their commitment and review implementation of nuclear security pledges made at the Washington Summit.

  * Click to see full text of Communique of the Washington Nuclear Security Summit.
  * Click to see full text of Work Plan of the Washington Nuclear Security Summit.