ROK DETAILED RESPONSE TO NONPROLIFERATION TREATY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000295

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/MNSA
GENEVA PASS TO CD
UNVIE PASS TO IAEA
USUN PASS TO POL
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USEU PASS TO POL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019
TAGS: MNUC PARM PREL IAEA NPT KS
SUBJECT: ROK DETAILED RESPONSE TO NONPROLIFERATION TREATY
(NPT) DEMARCHE

REF: A. STATE 6970

B. SEOUL 212

Classified By: Joseph Y. Yun for reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (U) Lee Jangkeun, Director of the Disarmament &
Nonproliferation Division within the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade on February 24 provided detailed responses
to reftel A and an expansion of reftel B. Won Jong-mun, the
ROKG point of contact on NPT issues, also attended the
meeting.


2. (C) The following is Lee's detailed responses to the
questions posed in reftel A, para 8. The questions are
reproduced to facilitate comprehension of the responses. The
responses are in quotation marks.


A. What are the host government's objectives for the NPT
in general, and for the current review process in particular?

"The ROKG gave equal weight to nonproliferation, peaceful
utilization of nuclear energy, and nuclear disarmament.
Regarding nonproliferation, a determination on North Korea's
(DPRK) withdrawal from the NPT must be made (reftel B). If
the DPRK's withdrawal from the NPT was recognized, then other
ways to get the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
involved with the DPRK must be found. In addition, the NPT
system had to strengthen and clarify the withdrawal and
non-compliance clauses. The ROKG wanted to promote peaceful
utilization of nuclear energy because of its current and
increasing reliance on nuclear energy for its electricity
generation needs. Consequently, a multilateral approach to
the nuclear fuel cycle and assurance was needed. The NPT
should provide answers on how to manage nuclear terrorism
risks in the light of the technological renaissance of
nuclear energy technology. Finally, universality of the NPT
was important to achieve."


B. What policies or actions regarding the NPT does the
host government hope to see from the United States?

"The ROKG would like to hear specific, detailed plans given
the new administration. Lee believed there was a high
expectation from the international community. Lee said that
early ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Treaty (CTBT) would be a positive sign to the international
community. The ROKG believed the USG policy on sensitive
nuclear fuel cycle technology should be more 'problem
oriented' versus its current 'control oriented' approach. A
problem oriented approach provided incentives for responsible
behavior and focused on developing proliferation resistant
nuclear technology."


C. What does the host government believe would represent a
successful outcome to the current NPT cycle ending with the
2010 Review Conference? How important is it for Parties to
reach consensus on substantive matters?

"The ROKG thought it was important to maintain the consensus
mechanism. Lee believed that the lack of a consensus
agreement would have a negative impact on the NPT because a
final document was a prerequisite for a successful Review
Conference (RevCon) in April-May 2010."


D. Does the host government believe that NPT parties
should take action to address the NPT issues described below?
If so, what actions would it support?

-- Noncompliance with the NPT, e.g., on the part of Iran and
North Korea.

"A mechanism was needed to prevent the withdrawal of parties,
such as the DPRK. If Iran withdrew, then it was too late,
(meaning, the NPT was of limited use and effectiveness).
Consequently, the ROKG wanted the DPRK to return to the NPT
regime. Lee said that not only should Iran's right to

peaceful utilization of nuclear energy be affirmed, but also
that Iran be given a firm warning that if it continued on its
current path, UN Security Council resolutions would follow.
Lee admitted that China and Russia would have to be on board
for this approach to work."

-- The prospect of Parties violating and then withdrawing
from the Treaty. (No ROKG response given.)

-- The lack of NPT universality.

"Lee said that India, Pakistan, and Israel should participate
in the NPT. If the USG ratified the CTBT, perhaps it could
positively impact these countries."

-- The lack of universality of NPT safeguards agreements and
the Additional Protocol.

"The ROKG believed that the universality of NPT safeguards
and the Additional Protocol was important. Lee said that
offering additional incentives, such as enhanced technical
cooperation, may encourage additional countries to adopt the
NPT safeguards and additional protocol."

-- The spread of enrichment and reprocessing capabilities to
additional countries.

"The ROKG believed that enrichment and reprocessing
capabilities could be discussed under a multilateral
mechanism regime. Lee said that the ROKG was planning to
actively participate in this discussion. Lee said that the
front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle was not problematic for
the ROK, but the back-end was very problematic, specifically,
in dealing with spent fuel. For the ROKG, the solution to
its spent fuel (storage) issues was urgent. The ROKG
believed that proliferation resistant, spent fuel technology
programs needed to be re-engaged, and it was on this issue
that multilateralism held much promise."

-- Fulfilling the Treaty's obligation for the fullest
possible international cooperation for the peaceful uses of
nuclear energy consistent with the Treaty's nonproliferation
obligations.

"The ROKG believed that it was a model case for peaceful uses
of nuclear energy consistent with NPT obligations. The ROKG
hoped that its experience would set an example that others
could follow."

-- Fulfilling the Treaty's obligations to pursue
negotiations relating to nuclear disarmament.

"Lee said that this was an obligation of nuclear weapon
states."

-- Transparency on the part of nuclear weapon states with
regard to their nuclear weapons forces and policies.

"Lee said that it was obvious that all nuclear weapon states
should have transparent policies. The ROKG hoped that the
USG would continue to make such efforts and hoped that other
nuclear weapon states would do the same. Lee said that the
USG ratification of the IAEA Additional Protocol was a good
step in this direction."


3. (C) Lee said that the ROKG was inclined to cooperate
with the USG. Besides sharing many of the USG's objectives
in the upcoming Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meeting, Lee
suggested that perhaps the USG and the ROKG could present a
joint paper either on peaceful utilization of nuclear energy
or on strengthening the withdrawal clause.


4. (U) Lee also extended an invitation to the NPT Special
Representative, if the USG appointed one, to visit the ROK
before the PrepCom or RevCon.

5. (SBU) The ROKG point of contact for NPT issues is Won
Jong-mun, the First Secretary of the Disarmament and
Nonproliferation Division. His email address is
jmwon95@mofat.go.kr. His telephone number is
011-822-2100-7248. His fax number is 011-822-2100-7933.
STEPHENS