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South Korea and U.S. Fail to Reach Deal on Nuclear Energy South Korea and U.S. Fail to Reach Deal on Nuclear Energy
(about 4 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea said on Wednesday that it has failed to reach a compromise with the United States on its civil nuclear energy program, forcing the two allies to delay the deadline for a deal by two years. SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea said on Wednesday that it had failed to reach a compromise with the United States on its civil nuclear energy program, forcing the two allies to delay the deadline for a deal by two years.
Secretary of State John Kerry of the United States had called for an agreement before the planned summit between President Barack Obama and his South Korean counterpart, Park Geun-hye, on May 7. But the differences between the allies remained deep over South Korea’s demand that Washington lift a ban on enriching uranium and reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. Washington had South Korea commit itself to the ban in a treaty signed in 1972 when Washington transferred nuclear material and technical expertise to help build South Korea’s nuclear energy industry. Secretary of State John Kerry had called for an agreement before the planned summit between President Obama and his South Korean counterpart, Park Geun-hye, on May 7. But the differences between the allies remained deep over South Korea’s demand that the United States lift a ban on enriching uranium and reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. The United States had South Korea commit itself to the ban in a treaty signed in 1972 when Washington transferred nuclear material and technical expertise to help build South Korea’s nuclear energy industry.
As the allies negotiated to revise and renew the treaty, which expires in March 2014, South Korea demanded that the ban be lifted so that it can enrich uranium to make its own nuclear fuel. Currently, it imports all its nuclear fuel. It also wanted to reprocess spent nuclear fuel to reduce its almost-full nuclear waste storage and turn the waste into a new fuel for the next generation of reactors it is developing.As the allies negotiated to revise and renew the treaty, which expires in March 2014, South Korea demanded that the ban be lifted so that it can enrich uranium to make its own nuclear fuel. Currently, it imports all its nuclear fuel. It also wanted to reprocess spent nuclear fuel to reduce its almost-full nuclear waste storage and turn the waste into a new fuel for the next generation of reactors it is developing.
But the same technologies are also used to make material for nuclear weapons. Washington feared that allowing South Korea to engage in either enrichment or reprocessing technologies would undermine its global efforts to curb nuclear proliferation. That would also complicate Washington’s diplomacy to persuade North Korea and Iran to give up its nuclear programs, U.S. officials said. But the same technologies are also used to make material for nuclear weapons. Washington feared that allowing South Korea to engage in either enrichment or reprocessing technologies would undermine its global efforts to curb nuclear proliferation. That would also complicate Washington’s diplomacy to persuade North Korea and Iran to give up their nuclear programs, American officials said.
“We are at a delicate moment with respect to the situation with the North, and we are also dealing with Iran and are very concerned at this time about not having any ingredients that could alter our approach with respect to either of those,” Mr. Kerry said in Seoul on April 12. “We are at a delicate moment with respect to the situation with the North, and we are also dealing with Iran and are very concerned at this time about not having any ingredients that could alter our approach with respect to either of those,” Mr. Kerry said in the South Korean capital, Seoul, on April 12.
But President Park made securing American concessions on the issue one of her top campaign pledges for her December election. She has repeatedly appealed for the such concessions since talking office in February. But President Park made securing American concessions on the issue one of her top campaign pledges for her December election. She has repeatedly appealed for such concessions since talking office in February.
Her foreign minister, Yun Byung-se, said the negotiations will be an important test of “trust” between the allies.Her foreign minister, Yun Byung-se, said the negotiations will be an important test of “trust” between the allies.
“Washington does not seem to trust South Korea as much as it reiterates blood-tight relations with Korea are as important as a linchpin, since it does not agree to revising the pact,” the mass-circulation daily JoongAng Ilbo said in an editorial last Saturday, when the postponement of a deal was first leaked to the media. “Just because the pact has been extended for two years does not assure that the two will narrow their differences. It is merely a makeshift move to avoid a dispute.”“Washington does not seem to trust South Korea as much as it reiterates blood-tight relations with Korea are as important as a linchpin, since it does not agree to revising the pact,” the mass-circulation daily JoongAng Ilbo said in an editorial last Saturday, when the postponement of a deal was first leaked to the media. “Just because the pact has been extended for two years does not assure that the two will narrow their differences. It is merely a makeshift move to avoid a dispute.”
Seoul denied any intention to develop nuclear weapons. But a few members of the governing party in Seoul grabbed Washington’s attention by urging their government to consider building nuclear weapons to counter North Korea’s nuclear threat. The South denied any intention of developing nuclear weapons. But a few members of the South Korean governing party grabbed Washington’s attention by urging their government to consider building nuclear weapons to counter North Korea’s nuclear threat.
On Wednesday, Cho Tai-young, a spokesman of the South Korean Foreign Ministry, said the two allies agreed to extend the expiration date of the nuclear treaty by two years until 2016 so their negotiators have more time to sort out “the complexity of details and technologies.” But he said there has been “some meaningful progress” over South Korea’s need to manage its spent nuclear fuel and secure a stable supply of nuclear fuel.On Wednesday, Cho Tai-young, a spokesman of the South Korean Foreign Ministry, said the two allies agreed to extend the expiration date of the nuclear treaty by two years until 2016 so their negotiators have more time to sort out “the complexity of details and technologies.” But he said there has been “some meaningful progress” over South Korea’s need to manage its spent nuclear fuel and secure a stable supply of nuclear fuel.
South Korea is now the world’s fifth-largest nuclear energy producer, meeting 35 percent of its electricity needs with its 23 nuclear reactors. Its dependence on atomic energy is projected to grow to 60 percent by 2030. It also believes that easing American restrictions on its nuclear activities is important for its plan to become a global exporter of nuclear power plants.South Korea is now the world’s fifth-largest nuclear energy producer, meeting 35 percent of its electricity needs with its 23 nuclear reactors. Its dependence on atomic energy is projected to grow to 60 percent by 2030. It also believes that easing American restrictions on its nuclear activities is important for its plan to become a global exporter of nuclear power plants.