Status and Perspectives of the Korean Nuclear Export Control System

This paper introduces the background, legal basis of a nuclear export control system in Korea and its links with international guidelines such as INFCIRC/254 Part 1 & Part 2 and trigger list items of the Nuclear Supply Group & the Zangger Committee accepted into Korean export control regulations. It also discusses with some characteristic of the export control regulations to be amended. They are reviewed in respects that nuclear export laws could not only control and prohibit the potential risk of nuclear proliferation, but promote and be useful for the international trade of domestic nuclear vendors. Related to the KEDO project, one of the current issues is to grant an export license to KEPCO for 2 Light Water Reactors to North Korea according to the Agreed Framework between U.S. and the DPRK. As a condition of supply, a peaceful use assurance from the recipient country for transferring Trigger List Items and related technology is essential. Taking into account the unique situation between South and North Korea, it would not be simple to get such an assurance. It should, however, be considered to conclude a cooperation agreement in due course, before transferring the first key nuclear components as a desirable option to receive the DPRK’s assurance for peaceful use.