Future of the ROK-US Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

Session: Regency Room
Date/Time: February 20, 2013 / 09:00-10:15

Moderator: Park Jiyoung, The Asan Institute for Policy Studies

Speakers: Mark Hibbs, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Sheen Seongho, Seoul National University
Scott Snyder, Council on Foreign Relations
Sharon Squassoni, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Yim Man-Sung, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

Rapporteur: David Santoro, Pacific Forum CSIS

Press Release Brief

1. All presenters agree that time is running out for (re-)negotiation of the ROK-US Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. Critical decisions will have to be made over the next few weeks.

2. The main issue for the ROK is to become involved in commercial uranium enrichment and introduce pyroprocessing in its activities, which the US is not prepared to agree to.

3. Yim Man-Sung noted that the ROK`s strong support for the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and the Nuclear Security Summit process is evidence that it is acting as a responsible actor.

4. Most participants agreed that extending the current agreement is probably the best option. One participant disagreed, however, stressing that negotiations should proceed now.

5. ROK presenters stressed that the ROK has no intention to develop nuclear weapons and that the future of the ROK-US Nuclear Cooperation Agreement should not be discussed in this light.