S. Korea seeks expansion of peaceful nuclear activity: FM

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, July 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea wants to expand its peaceful nuclear
program for commercial gains, South Korea's top diplomat said Thursday, signaling
tough and lengthy negotiations lie ahead with its key ally, the United States,
which says there is no need for Seoul to have the right to reprocess spent fuel.

Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said that the Seoul-Washington nuclear cooperation
agreement should be revised to allow for more activity, as it expires in 2012.
South Korea has several nuclear power plants but it is banned from reprocessing
spent fuel under the 1974 agreement with the U.S.
"As the nuclear energy pact expires in 2012, there is a need to revise it at an
early date," the minister told reporters, adding it is an issue that requires a
cautious approach. "What we are interested in is setting the boundary of
cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. for the peaceful use of atomic
energy."
He pointed out that South Korea will have to depend more on nuclear energy in
countering climate change.
"I think we need to have concrete consultations in the direction of maximizing
commercial gains from the supply of fuel and the handling of spent fuel," he
added, without going into details.
His comments apparently contradict Washington's stance.
Ellen Tauscher, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international
security, made it clear in a recent congressional hearing that there is no need
for a revision to the current restrictions.
When Senator Richard Lugar asked, "Does the administration contemplate any
changes in existing nuclear cooperation agreements, in particular those with
Taiwan and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) to allow reprocessing of
U.S.-origin materials in those nations?" she replied that "pragmatic consent" for
reprocessing given to the EU, Japan, and India cannot be extended to South Korea
or Taiwan.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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