Nuclear Nonproliferation Capacity Building Support by Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security: Modeling the Support Program for Vietnam and Beyond

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) embarked on the nuclear nonproliferation cooperation program for Asian countries in 2007 with the purpose of supporting their infrastructure development for nuclear nonproliferation. Since the establishment of the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security (ISCN) in JAEA in December 2010, JAEA has, in addition to its work on nuclear nonproliferation, extended its support efforts to address capacity building needs in the area of nuclear security. The growing needs in nuclear energy, particularly among countries with a weak nuclear nonproliferation infrastructure, necessitated such international support to ensure that the expansion of nuclear energy use would not heighten nuclear proliferation risks. The accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, however, cast a dark shadow over the prospects of nuclear energy use. Accordingly, the international community has taken a cautious stance toward the shadowy nuclear future, which might result in a slowdown in international support efforts for nuclear nonproliferation. The accident certainly provided stark lessons on nuclear energy countries in that peaceful use of nuclear energy requires the full assurance of nuclear safety. Importantly, the accident likewise demonstrated that even in a severe nuclear accident, nuclear material has to be secured against theft and sabotage. Furthermore, the accident highlighted the fact that nuclear material exists all over the world, and that it must be managed and controlled exclusively for peaceful use. With this understanding, ISCN has accelerated its capacity building support efforts for nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear security. These efforts currently place a high priority on nuclear nonproliferation infrastructure development in Vietnam, including the Additional Protocol implementation and the state system of accounting for and control of nuclear material (SSAC). This paper describes the methodology and contents of ISCN’s capacity building support program for Vietnam as well as consideration of further program developments to achieve effective nonproliferation support beyond Vietnam.