This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.

Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

Early 1990
The Korea Power Engineering Company (KOPEC) concludes a contract with Societe Generale Pour les Techniques Nouvelles (SGN) for a spent fuel storage facility with a capacity of 3,000 metric tons. South Korea's at-reactor spent fuel storage is expected to run out within the next five-six years.
—Anne MacLachlan, "SGN Wins South Korean Design Contract For Spent Fuel Storage Facility," Nuclear Fuel, 5 March 1990, p. 9, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

11 January 1990
According to sources in the South Korean Ministry of Defense, the South Korean government will propose a four-step disarmament program with North Korea that would include the suspension of any North Korean nuclear weapon production, as well as North Koreas joining and adhering to nuclear safety agreements.
—"Nambuk Kunch'uk 4 Tan'gye'an Maryŏn/Kukpangbu/90 Nyŏndae Chungban Chuhanmigun Ch'ŏlsu Taebi," Hankyoreh Shinmun, 12 January 1990, p. 1, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr/>.

14 February 1990
The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) is established as an independent organization from the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute.
—Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS), <http://www.kins.re.kr/eng/aboutkins.html>; Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, "History of KAERI," <http://www.kaeri.re.kr/engnew/intro3.html>.

17 February 1990
The Kori-2 nuclear reactor is loaded with 52 bundles of domestically manufactured light water reactor fuel for the first time.
—Korean Electric Power Corporation, "Chŏllyŏksaŏp 100 Nyŏnsa," 27 April 2001, <http://www.kepco.co.kr/kepco_plaza/f/f2/html/f2_01_01_06_08.html>; MOTIE 1995 Nuclear White Paper, August 1995, pp. 177-323, in "ROK 1995 Nuclear Energy White Paper Part 2 of 2," FBIS Document ID: FTS19950801000965.

23 February 1990
South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jŏng Hun tells the National Assembly's National Defense Committee that North Korea is building nuclear facilities in Yŏngbyŏn-kun on a large scale and that North Korea could produce nuclear weapons in the mid-1990s. Minister Lee also says that North Korea is extending the range of its Scud missiles to over 500km.
—"Nambuk Kunch'ukhyŏpsang Ch'ujin/I Kukpang, 3 Tan'gyero/Sangho Shilloeguch'uk Hotline Sŏlch'I'do," Kyunghyang Shinmun, 24 February 1990, p. 2, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr/>.

27 February 1990
A dedication ceremony is held for the completion of the Ulchin-1 and Ulchin-2 nuclear power plants.
—Korean Electric Power Corporation, "Chŏllyŏksaŏp 100 Nyŏnsa," 27 April 2001, <http://www.kepco.co.kr/kepco_plaza/f/f2/html/f2_01_01_05_12.html>.

5 March 1990
A South Korean government committee agrees to allow Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to purchase 40 metric tons of enriched uranium from the Soviet Union per year. The Soviet Union is expected to sell uranium at a significantly lower price, and will accept consumer electronic goods as partial payment. [Note: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) cite 390 tons of enriched uranium.]
—Shin Hochul, "KEPCO to Buy 40 Metric Tons/Yr of Enriched Uranium From Soviet Union," Nuclear Fuel, 19 March 1990, p. 5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

12 March 1990
Japan's Atomic Energy Commission hosts the first international conference for nuclear cooperation in Asia. Senior officials from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan are present to discuss nuclear cooperation. During the conference, South Korea proposes to establish a standing committee for nuclear cooperation in Asia with subcommittees for nuclear safety, power reactors, public acceptance, radioisotope application, and nuclear policy.
—"First Asian Nuclear Cooperation Confab Opens in Tokyo," Japan Economic Newswire, 12 March 1990, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Naoaki Usui, "South Korea Wants to Develop Nuclear Outside of IAEA Framework," Nucleonics Week, 22 March 1990, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

18 April 1990
During the fifth annual joint conference of the Korean Atomic Industrial Forum held in Seoul, Boris Semenov, Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), says that North Korea will probably sign the IAEA safeguards agreement by September 1990. Semenov says that the IAEA and North Korea have been negotiating over the agreement and that three or four paragraphs have been completed to the satisfaction of both parties.
—"Pukhan, 'Haeg'anjŏnhyŏpjŏng' 9 Wŏl'e Kaiphal Tŭt/IAEA Samuch'ajang Chŏnmang," Kukmin Ilbo, 19 April 1990, p. 2, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr/>;Yonhap News Agency, 18 April 1990, in "IAEA Expects North Compliance by September," FBIS-EAS-90-075, 18 April 1990, p. 22.

7 May 1990
South Korea signs a contract with the Soviet Union to import 390 tons of enriched uranium by 1999. [Note: According to the Mining Journal and Nuclear Fuel, the contract calls for 400 tons of enriched uranium (these sources cite approximately 40 tons per year for the next ten years).]
—MOTIE 1995 Nuclear White Paper, August 1995, pp. 177-323, in "ROK 1995 Nuclear Energy White Paper Part 2 of 2," FBIS Document ID: FTS19950801000965; "Soviet Plantium for Nymex?...Uranium for South Korea," Mining Journal, 9 March 1990, p. 201, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Shin Hochul, "KEPCO to Buy About 40 Metric Tons/YR of Enriched Uranium from Soviet Union," Nuclear Fuel, 19 March 1990, p. 5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

25 May 1990
South Korea and Japan sign a nuclear cooperation agreement. The agreement consists of cooperation in nuclear power plant safety, protection and monitoring of radiation, utilization of radioisotopes and radiation, and matters related to nuclear energy. Implementation of the agreement is not expected to go into effect until South Korea completes procedures to join the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) convention on nuclear accidents, and notification and assistance in the case of nuclear accidents.
—Naoaki Usui, "South Korea and Japan Sign Nuclear Cooperation Agreement," Nucleonics Week, 7 June 1990, p. 11, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

14-15 June 1990
During his visit to Washington on his way back from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors held in Vienna, South Korea's Minister of Science and Technology Chŏng Kŭn Mo says that North Korea has notified the IAEA that it will send a delegation to the IAEA in mid July 1990 to discuss signing the IAEA safeguards agreement. He estimates that North Korea is likely to sign the safeguards agreement before August when the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference is to be held in Vienna. He also announces that the USSR cancelled the sale of four nuclear reactors to North Korea.
—Kim Ho Jun, "So, Pukhan'e Wŏnjarop'anmae Chungdan/Pangmi Chŏngkwakich'ŏ," Taehan Maeil, 16 June 1990, p. 1, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; "So Wŏnjyŏn Pukhan P'anmae Ch'wiso/Chŏng Kwagich'ŏng Palghyŏ," Donga Ilbo, 17 June 1990, p. 1, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; Yi Chang Sun, "Shocks and Ripple Effects of Speculation on the North's Manufacturing of Nuclear Weapons on Six Months," Seoul Shinmun (Seoul), 19 June 1990, p. 5, in "Daily Speculates on North's Nuclear Capability," in FBIS-EAS-90-122, 25 June 1990, p. 31; Margaret L. Ryan, "IAEA Plans Quick Vote If Pact Made on North Korean Safeguards," Nucleonics Week, 21 June 1990, pp. 7-8.

21 June 1990
At a symposium sponsored by the Cato Institute in Washington, DC, Selig Harrison of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace says that the United States has 60 nuclear weapons for F-16s fighter-bombers stored at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea. Harrison says the United States has also deployed 21 "nuclear mines," 40 eight-inch nuclear artillery pieces, thirty 155mm nuclear artillery pieces, and 20 Lance missiles with nuclear warheads in South Korea.
—Chŏng Yŏn Ju, "Chuhanmi'gun Haekpoyu Hyŏnhwang Hwag'in," Hankyoreh Shinmun, 23 June 1990, p. 6, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>.

31 August 1990
Combustion Engineering Inc. (C-E) submits an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Committee (NRC) to export two 950MW nuclear reactors to South Korea.
—"C-E to Export Two More Reactors to South Korea," Nuclear Fuel, 17 September 1990, p. 6, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

September 1990
The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) establishes the Nuclear Environment Management Center (NEMAC).
—Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, "History of KAERI," <http://www.kaeri.re.kr/engnew/intro3.htm>.

9 November 1990
South Korean President Roh Tae-Woo fires the minister of the Ministry of Science & Technology after riots erupt on the island of Anmyŏn after it is chosen as the site for low- and intermediate-level nuclear waste.
—Shin Hochul, "Korean Minister Fired as Protests Force LLW Site Plan Cancellation," Nucleonics Week, 15 November 1990, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

22 November 1990
The South Korean minister of Foreign Affairs asserts the idea of a nuclear free Korean peninsula as "unrealistic" after a member of the Soviet presidential Council proposes this during a lecture in Seoul.
—"South Korea Calls Denuclearization Proposal Unrealistic," Japan Economic Newswire, 24 November 1990, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

23 November 1990
Daewoo and the Soviet Union's Ministry of Nuclear Power Engineering and Industry sign an agreement to establish a joint project on developing and applying advanced materials and special technologies in nuclear power engineering.
—Vyacheslav Bantin, "South Korean Corporation Signs Contract with USSR," ITAR-TASS, 24 November 1990, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

28 December 1990
The Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) signs a $535 million contract with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to construct the Wŏlsŏng-2 nuclear power reactor. The Wŏlsŏng-2 will be identical to the Wŏlsŏng-1, which is a 629MWe heavy water reactor. According to the contract, the AECL will provide the reactor while Korea Heavy Industries & Construction and General Electric (GE) will jointly manufacture the turbine generator. Wŏlsŏng-2 is expected to begin commercial operations in June 1997.
—M.H. Ahn, "Canadian Company Signs Contract for Nuclear Power Plant," The Associated Press, 28 December 1990, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; "Kepco Buys Second CANDU for Wolsong Plant Site," Nuclear News, February 1991, p. 50, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

	Updated November 2003