South Korea Joins Global Nuclear Power Effort

South Korea has joined a U.S.-led initiative to promote the expansion of nuclear power technology, World Nuclear News reported yesterday (see GSN, Nov. 30).

The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership aims to build nuclear power capacity while developing technology to slow nuclear weapon proliferation, according to U.S. officials.

“By joining GNEP, South Korea can maximize its interest in critical decision making processes related to atomic energy issues, and can use its membership to bolster exports to countries interested in nuclear power generation,” said atomic energy official Kim Young-sik.  Science and Industry Ministry officials formally joined the partnership Monday by signing a statement of principles first established by other participants in September (see GSN, Sept. 17).

Nineteen countries have now joined the effort, leaving India and the United Kingdom as the only major nuclear nations outside the partnership, World Nuclear News reported (World Nuclear News, Dec. 11).

U.S. officials praised Seoul’s decision.

“The Republic of Korea is a leader in civil nuclear energy, and its diverse nuclear power capabilities and a strong research and development program will enable Korea to contribute a great deal to GNEP,” said Assistant Energy Secretary Dennis Spurgeon in a press release. “GNEP represents nations at every stage of nuclear power development and its broad array of partners will help ensure a viable and durable framework to safely increase the use of clean and affordable nuclear power (U.S. Energy Department release, Dec. 11).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.