ElBaradei Praises South Korean Cooperation With IAEA Investigation of Nuclear Experiments

Top international nuclear official Mohamed ElBaradei yesterday praised South Korea’s cooperation with the agency’s investigation into nuclear experiments disclosed recently by Seoul, according to Agence France-Presse (see GSN, Oct. 5).

“We have not seen any cover-up,” ElBaradei said during a news conference in Seoul. “We are getting good cooperation from the South Korean government.”

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency said he expects one or two more inspection teams to travel to South Korea this month, and plans to report in November to IAEA members on the results of the investigation.

ElBaradei also dismissed North Korean claims that the United States has engaged in a double standard regarding the experiments, which involved small amounts of enriched uranium and plutonium, AFP reported.

“North Korea has a full-fledged reprocessing plant operating while South Korea has been continuously under safeguard and under verification,” he said (Agence France-Presse/SpaceWar.com, Oct. 6).

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