Wi Sung-lac: 'Enrichment and Reprocessing Are Unrelated to Nuclear Potential... Purely Economic Purposes' [US-ROK Joint Fact Sheet Announcement]

[Financial News] Wi Sung-lac, Director of the Office of National Security, dismissed concerns on the 13th regarding uranium enrichment and nuclear reprocessing included in the US-ROK summit agreement, stating, "No one considers enrichment and reprocessing for anything other than economic and industrial purposes." He firmly rejected claims linking these activities to the expansion of nuclear potential.
During a follow-up briefing after the US-ROK Joint Fact Sheet announcement, Wi emphasized, "Enrichment and reprocessing are pursued solely for economic and industrial reasons." He added, "These have nothing to do with nuclear potential or nuclear armament. If anyone in our society tries to connect these issues, it only complicates matters. We have no association with such interpretations and thoroughly reject them."
Regarding the authority for uranium enrichment and reprocessing, Wi stated, "The direction has been set and both sides have agreed, so subsequent consultations will focus on how to implement it." He continued, "While many discussions are needed, the main framework for reprocessing and nuclear-powered submarines has been agreed upon."
He also reaffirmed that enrichment and reprocessing remain subject to adjustments under the existing Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of the United States of America Concerning Civil Uses of Atomic Energy. Wi explained, "To proceed with enrichment or reprocessing, we must negotiate and adjust the current agreement. Whether major or minor adjustments are needed will depend on future agreements. We must go through the current agreement."
Furthermore, he noted, "Addressing the nuclear-powered submarine issue involves using nuclear material received from the United States for military purposes." He clarified, "If we keep calling it 'military,' it could be linked to nuclear weapons, but that's not the case—it's for conventional nuclear-powered submarines." He added, "Because it involves the military use of nuclear material, several procedural issues must be resolved. Technical and fuel-related matters are required. If necessary, we can amend or create a new agreement."
Regarding the construction method for nuclear-powered submarines, he stated, "We can build the vessels and reactors here using our own technology. We expect to receive fuel from the United States." He contrasted this with Australia, saying, "Australia does not build them domestically due to a lack of shipbuilding capacity, so they are constructed in the United States." He added, "Although there is no specific target date, it is expected to take nearly ten years. We need to start quickly to accelerate the timeline."
On the process of adjusting the fact sheet language, Wi said, "The language for the key contentious nuclear issues was agreed upon last August. Most of today's content was settled then, with the nuclear-powered submarine issue added later." He continued, "Although the fact sheet could have been released immediately after the summit, it was delayed to include the tariff section. During the Gyeongju meeting, the U.S. side revisited some points, but they were resolved."
He further stated, "All matters regarding enrichment and reprocessing have been settled, and the language announced today is consistent with the wording previously used with the United States."
In response to questions about changes in the role of United States Forces Korea (USFK), Wi said, "That issue is also reflected in the fact sheet. There are no major changes. One of the meanings of this fact sheet is that the alliance has been modernized and adjusted to fit our security environment and conditions, as agreed between the US and Korea." He added, "We have completed various consultations with the main role of USFK and the strengthening of US-ROK security cooperation in mind, and this is reflected in the wording. There was also a smooth agreement regarding the size and role of USFK, as can be seen in the text."
Regarding the schedule for follow-up consultations, Wi stated, "Although the timing has not been set, we intend to proceed with working-level consultations as soon as possible."

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