SEOUL, Dec 17: Seoul is considering a separate bilateral agreement with Washington to enable construction of a nuclear-powered submarine, the Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday, citing South Korean National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac.
Wi made the comments as he arrived in Washington on Tuesday for talks – about a month after a joint fact sheet on trade and security pacts was reached at the second summit between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and US President Donald Trump in late October, Yonhap reported.
“In the case of Australia, an exception was granted in accordance with Section 91 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, which requires a separate bilateral agreement ? Since we may also need that, I will discuss such a possibility,” Wi told reporters.
The scenario mirrors how Australia and the United States concluded a separate deal under US law, sidestepping their existing peaceful nuclear energy cooperation pact and paving the way for Australia to acquire nuclear submarines, according to the report.
South Korea’s current bilateral civil nuclear energy agreement with the United States bars it from using nuclear materials for military purposes, Yonhap reported.
Answering a question on creating a dedicated consultative body to support Seoul’s nuclear submarine push, Wi said that he plans to find ways to speed up talks with the US side.
“There are preparations from our side, and I will see what is going on with the U.S. side While there have not yet been talks on launching consultative bodies for different issues, I will look for ways to expedite consultations,” Wi said.
On uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing, Wi stressed the need for concrete next steps, noting broader-level agreements have already been reached. (UNI)
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