| Submit your comments on this article |
| China-Japan-Koreas |
| U.S. Against Resumption of S.Korean Nuclear Energy Program |
| 2009-07-01 |
| The U.S. administration made it clear to Congress that it is against restoring South Korea's peaceful nuclear program by means of reprocessing spent fuel, advanced mainly by the ruling Grand National Party. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher made the point in an 85-page answer to Senator Richard Lugar, the secretary of the Foreign Relations Committee, in the course of her confirmation hearing on June 9. The relevant section has two parts. Lugar asks, "Does the administration contemplate any changes in existing nuclear cooperation agreements, in particular those with Taiwan and the Republic of South Korea, to allow reprocessing of U.S.-origin materials in those nations?" Tauscher replied that "programmatic consent" for reprocessing given to the EU, Japan and India under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 cannot be extended to South Korea and Taiwan. "The administration does not believe that such programmatic consent to reprocessing is necessarily appropriate in other cases, including Taiwan and the Republic of Korea," she said. In other words, Washington sees no need to revise the Seoul-Washington nuclear cooperation agreement so the South can reprocess nuclear fuel. She also agreed when asked, "Do you believe that an agreement that allowed any form of reprocessing to take place in South Korea would violate the 1992 Joint Declaration, in particular its clean statement that 'the South and the North shall not possess nuclear reprocessing and uranium enrichment facilities'?" Coinciding with North KoreaÂ’s second nuclear weapons test and resumption of nuclear programs, the answer sends a clear message that no reprocessing of spent fuel can be allowed to South Korea and Taiwan even in these circumstances. The Barack Obama administration apparently feels the call by South Korean conservatives for Seoul to resume its own nuclear program would send the wrong message to the world. Democrats and Republicans in Congress largely agree. Cheong Wa Dae and the South Korean Embassy in Washington have made it clear that a call for nuclear armament in the South is not the official government position. "If South Korea violates the denuclearization treaty by reprocessing spent fuel and enriching uranium in the face of U.S. opposition, the price will be high," a diplomatic source in Washington warned. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #6 I was attempting to show the contrast between Obama's apparent support for North Korea's Nuclear weapons development (and exportation of nuclear tech) and his objection to the south even reprocessing fuel (which Japan, another non-nuclear-armed country, does already). Like the contrast between his strong support of a wanna-be dictator and his limp d-k 'support' of the people of Iran. There are worse things then a Nuclear arms race. Having your freedoms stripped away from being under the gun of a nuclear armed Psycho is one. Being on the receiving end of a nuclear attack is another. Kimmie is both desperate enough and Obama whimpy enough that the north might feel that they could get away with either option. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-07-01 09:36 |
| #5 Obama is the best guarantee Japan S Korea and Taiwan will go nuclear. Anticipating when Europe's #1 Love Interest withdraws American nuclear guarantees for NATO. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-07-01 08:54 |
| #4 It's clear countries determined enough to do so are able to acquire nuclear raw materials, and those determined enough to get proper scientists trained -- or purchased -- along with sub rosa purchases of refining equipment. Especially countries like Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. We all seem to think Japan could assemble a working device on very short notice, but has not because they've thus far trusted America to handle such things on their behalf, and it seems likely Taiwan and South Korea have not embarked on that path for the same reason. However, after the positions enunciated by President Obamaa over the past few days, what odds Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan continue to remain sanguine that America will actively protect them at the moment they should come to need protection that extends beyond speeches and stern letters to the appropriate foreign minister? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-07-01 08:06 |
| #3 All things considered, Play4, there are worse things than a nuclear arms race (which this isn't, at least not yet). Conceding the race to your psychopathic enemy is worse, unless you are one of the old 'Better Red than dead' folks from the sixties. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-07-01 07:02 |
| #2 Yhea Ya Name serves ya right #1 But North Korea's nuclear weapon program is A-OK with the Obama Administration right? And the spread of nuclear weapons to terrorist states is just fine with Big-OH. ARMS RACE IS FINE BY YOU I SEE DIP$%&* I swear - there isn't a totalitarian, brutal Dictator Obama isn't in love with. Not a single one. Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-07-01 01:12 |
| Posted by: Play4Keeps 2009-07-01 02:00 |
| #1 But North Korea's nuclear weapon program is A-OK with the Obama Administration right? And the spread of nuclear weapons to terrorist states is just fine with Big-OH. I swear - there isn't a totalitarian, brutal Dictator Obama isn't in love with. Not a single one. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-07-01 01:12 |