Safeguards Developments and Challenges in the ROK during the last 50 years

The Republic of Korea(ROK) joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1957 and ratified the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1975. Since then, the ROK has followed all the requirements established by the IAEA related to the State System of Accounting for and Control of nuclear materials. In 1997, national inspections at nuclear facilities were initiated independently, yet concurrently with IAEA inspections. Using remote monitoring technology and state’s system utilization, enhanced cooperation on LWRs between the ROK and the IAEA has been implemented since 2002. In addition to the LWRs, discussion on the enhanced cooperation of the OLR reactor is underway. These new approaches are expected to reduce the IAEA’s inspection effort significantly. The ROK has also made effort to develop equipment for Safeguards Inspection such as the Spent CANDU fuel verifier, the Optical Fiber Scintillator and the Neutron Fingerprinting System. In order to enhance the transparency of nuclear activities, the ROK signed the Additional Protocol (AP) in June 1999 and ratified it in February 2004. As soon as entering the AP into force, the ROK started a discussion with the IAEA to apply the Integrated Safeguards scheme. The working group for the IS scheme was organized to design the Integrated Safeguards for all nuclear facilities in 2005. The measures for the Integrated Safeguards are different depending on the nuclear facility. At a working group meeting, IS schemes were developed for LWR, OLR, FFP and RRCA. Most of the important issues were solved at the working group meetings, and it is expected that the ROK would be under the IS scheme by 2008. Nuclear confidence building among neighboring countries can be achieved with patience, efforts and understanding. A regional cooperation scenario is presented based on the sprit of mutual confidence.