Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul left for the United States on Wednesday to hold a series of high-profile talks on economic and nuclear energy cooperation.

His four-day trip to Washington is to follow up on a pair of agreements between the two sides to launch a high-level economic council meeting and a separate commission on nuclear energy cooperation.

On Friday, Cho is scheduled to hold the inaugural economic council session with Catherine Novelli, under secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, according to his ministry.

"They plan to discuss major bilateral, regional and global economic issues that have diplomatic implications," it said.

Agenda items include climate change, health care, the Arctic, development and the digital economy.

Before the meeting, Cho will hold talks with Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall on Wednesday to prepare for the implementation of the new nuclear accord.

After years of tough talks, Washington agreed to allow Seoul to expand its peaceful nuclear activity. South Korea also left the door open for the possibility of enriching uranium or reprocessing spent nuclear fuel.

Details will be discussed through the envisioned high-level standing commission. Both Cho and Sherwood-Randall will serve as top delegates to the commission.

The accord, formally signed in June, is expected to take effect within the coming weeks. (Yonhap)