Yi Jae-myeong government refutes Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement that "South Korean conventional nuclear submarines comply with NPT" ahead of the China-South Korea summit
The South Korean government said on the 31st that the recent U.S. approval of nuclear-powered submarine construction complies with the obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In the context of a forthcoming China-South Korea summit, China expressed vigilance on the 30th, stating "it should faithfully fulfill nuclear non-proliferation obligations," and this South Korean move can be interpreted as a rebuttal that there is no problem.
A South Korean Foreign Ministry official stated that "we are developing and operating conventional armed nuclear-powered submarines," and "this complies with the NPT." The intention is that the nuclear-powered submarines mentioned by Yoon Suk-yeol are not strategic nuclear submarines carrying nuclear weapons, but rather powered by nuclear energy, and thus unrelated to nuclear proliferation issues. The Chinese Foreign Ministry had previously stated regarding the discussion between the South Korean and U.S. leaders about nuclear-powered submarines, "China is closely monitoring the situation," and "hopes that South Korea and the United States will faithfully fulfill their nuclear non-proliferation obligations."
A South Korean Foreign Ministry official said, "Our country is fully fulfilling the NPT obligations, and our government's commitment to the NPT obligations is unwavering," and "while promoting the introduction of conventional armed nuclear-powered submarines, we will cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) while respecting the NPT."
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847499391137115/
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