South Korea 'considers separate agreement with US for nuclear submarines'

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea is considering a separate agreement with the U.S. for the construction of nuclear submarines, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lak said on Tuesday.

Upon arriving at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., Wi said that such an agreement would be needed, separately from the comprehensive joint fact sheet signed between the two countries last month, which outlines agreements on bilateral trade and security.

Wi then added that he is looking into the case of Australia, which was granted an exception for the use of atomic energy through a separate agreement.

In late October when U.S. President Donald Trump visited the southeastern city of Gyeongju, Seoul and Washington reached a broader agreement that included a U.S. commitment to support the construction of nuclear submarines using U.S.-supplied fuel, along with the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and uranium enrichment.

However, to proceed with the construction of nuclear submarines, revisions would be needed to the current bilateral nuclear energy pact, first signed in 1974, which prohibits South Korea from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel and enriching uranium for power generation.

During his stay in Washington, D.C., until Thursday, Wi is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Energy Secretary Chris Wright for follow-up talks to implement agreements outlined in the joint fact sheet and related discussions.

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