The South Korean government has officially expressed its intention to engage in discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding a separate safety agreement for the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Discussions on issues, including nuclear-powered submarines between South Korea and the United States, are ongoing."
During a press briefing at the Ministry's headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, a ministry official said, "The government has submitted the necessary notification documents related to the nuclear-powered submarine project in accordance with international agreements with the IAEA."
The official added, "We plan to continue consultations with the IAEA regarding nuclear-powered submarines under the principle of faithfully fulfilling our international non-proliferation obligations, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and IAEA safety agreements."
Regarding the IAEA notification documents, the official explained, "According to Article 14 of the IAEA, a comprehensive safety agreement must be established, and we have submitted the necessary documents for that purpose."
Meanwhile, on September 7, according to Voice of America (VOA), IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated, "South Korea has officially notified the IAEA of its intention to begin discussions regarding a separate agreement under Article 14 of the Comprehensive Safety Agreement (CSA)." Article 14 allows non-nuclear weapon states to use nuclear materials for non-prohibited military activities when entering into a separate agreement with the IAEA, with the reactor fuel for nuclear-powered submarines being a prime example.
Grossi also noted, "South Korea has already submitted relevant notification documents to the IAEA and reaffirmed its commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the NPT, the Comprehensive Safety Agreement, and the Additional Protocol. We hope that discussions will continue in the spirit of transparency."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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