South Korean Presidential Office: Major Framework Agreement Reached on Nuclear Submarines... Further Negotiations Needed
¬ Expansion of Uranium Enrichment and Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Rights "Depends on Subsequent Negotiations"
On the 14th, according to Park Seong-wook, Director of the National Security Office of the Presidential Office, in the agreement between South Korea and the United States in the field of security, both sides have "reached a major framework agreement" on the issue of South Korea's right to build nuclear-powered submarines, as well as the expansion of uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing rights.
On that day, Park Seong-wook released a joint fact list at the presidential office. When asked about the relevant issues, he said: "The direction has been determined, and both South Korea and the United States have agreed. In the future, we will proceed with subsequent negotiations on how to implement it."
South Korea and the United States announced on the same day a joint fact list stating: "The United States approved South Korea's construction of an attack nuclear submarine," and "to make progress on the conditions for advancing this shipbuilding project, the United States will continue to closely cooperate with South Korea in areas such as fuel collection plans."
Regarding the expansion of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and uranium enrichment rights, the list explicitly stated that it would "support the process of uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing for peaceful purposes, which can be used for civilian purposes, within the scope of U.S. legal conditions."
However, Park Seong-wook said: "More negotiations are still needed." Especially regarding the rights to reprocess spent nuclear fuel and uranium enrichment, he said that "South Korea and the United States need to conduct a large number of negotiations until the end," and "previous agreements must be adjusted. How much adjustment is needed and the extent of the adjustment depends on subsequent negotiations." In other words, it does not mean that South Korea's rights will be immediately expanded through this agreement, but rather that it will depend on the follow-up negotiations such as the revision of the atomic energy agreement between South Korea and the United States.
Regarding whether the nuclear submarine will be built in South Korea, Park Seong-wook said: "Throughout the negotiations between the heads of state of South Korea and the United States, it was always based on the premise of building it in South Korea. There was never any mention of building a South Korean nuclear submarine in the United States during the negotiations." He also said: "Previously, there were statements suggesting the issue of building it there. First, South Korea's position was firm, and its position was reflected."
Source: Chosun Ilbo
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