Global pharmaceutical company Moderna has confirmed that it was engaged in discussions with the South Korean government to potentially provide 40 million or more doses of its COVID-19 vaccine. 

Moderna said on Tuesday in a statement that they held the discussions to support South Korea's aim of providing vaccines to the public as soon as possible.

It added that potential distribution of the two-dose vaccine in South Korea is expected to start in the second quarter of next year.

The statement confirms the announcement made by the South Korean presidential office regarding the vaccine supply. 

The top office said earlier on Tuesday that Moderna agreed to provide the country with enough vaccines to inoculate 20 million people during a video conference between President Moon Jae-in and Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel on the previous day.

Forty million doses would be enough to inoculate 20 million people as the Moderna vaccine requires two injections.