Efforts for Further Strengthening the ROK’s Nuclear Security

The ROK has actively participated in international efforts to strengthen the regime of nuclear security. Hosting the 2nd Nuclear Security Summit in 2012 was example of this dedication to nuclear security. In 2014, the ROK joined all 13 international conventions related to terrorism after ratifying the amendment to the CPPNM and ICSANT. The APPRE was revised after reflecting on those requirements specified in the IAEA’s NSS 13 (INFCIRC/225/Rev.5), amendment to the CPPNM and ICSANT in 2014. The Korean government has established a plan to implement the revised act and updated its rules and guidelines for nuclear facilities. In order to establish a framework for risk based regulation, a national DBT that was established in 2009 was revised based on the analysis of threats in 2013. The revised DBT reflected the full spectrum of plausible threats that could occur at nuclear facilities. Each facility should prepare its own threat and response scenario based on the national DBT and submit them for approval. INFCIRC/225/Rev.5 recommends a state should adopt a performance based regulation. A performance based regulation can be achieved by conducting realistic performance tests (force-on-force exercise) in which adversary teams try to penetrate a security system. To do this, the ROK established its legal bases for use of a force-on-force exercise. Since the ROK lacked the experience and capabilities to perform this type of an exercise at its nuclear sites, a project for developing technologies on laser engagement systems to conduct on-site combat simulations was launched. It is expected that a force-on-force exercise can be carried out at an actual nuclear facility in 2016. The Korean government recognized the necessity of a regulatory framework on cyber security at nuclear facilities and revised the APPRE to include cyber security plan in security plan. The national DBT was also amended to reflect cyber threats. The licensee should submit cyber security plan for approval in accordance with the revised act. A technical standard for cyber security was published to assist the licensee to prepare a cyber security plan, as well as the tools that can help inspectors to perform their work.