Korea is seeking uranium enrichment and reprocessing rights on par with those of Japan, and the issue was reportedly discussed during the 25 August summit in Washington between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump. “The two countries will continue discussions in various fields of cooperation based on that meeting,” Koreajoongang Daily cited a Foreign Ministry official as saying.
South Korea has been cooperating with the US on nuclear energy since 1956, when an “Agreement for Cooperation Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Korea Concerning Civil Uses of Atomic Energy” was signed. It was amended multiple times in 1958, 1965, 1972 (extended to 1974) and most recently in 2015.
From the start, South Korea has pressed the US to give advance consent to enrich or reprocess US-origin fuel. However, South Korea does not currently enrich or reprocess, and it signed a joint declaration with North Korea in 1992 not to acquire such facilities. The compromise in 20-year 2015 agreement created “pathways” to a future decision on advance consent for both enrichment and reprocessing. One pathway was a Joint Fuel Cycle Study underway since 2011, which was to report its findings on the technical, economic, and non-proliferation feasibility of fuel cycle options to a new High-Level Bilateral Commission (HLBC).
This permits Korea to enrich uranium to less than 20%, provided both sides sign a written commitment through the HLBC. In practice, this meant US approval was required, and no progress has been made in the past decade. The 2015 agreement maintained the ban on reprocessing of used fuel.
The Korean government is now pushing to revise the 2015 nuclear accord early, despite 10 years remaining before its expiration. As a second option, it is also exploring ways to secure authority under the current agreement. However, amending the agreement would require the consent of the US Congress. Most likely Korea will try to take advantage of the existing regulations, which imply that uranium enrichment is possible with US consent.
“We have long felt the need to reprocess used nuclear fuel and to produce our own fuel through enrichment,” Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said. “We should pursue this either by revising the agreement or by reaching another form of accord with the United States.”
“Korea currently operates 26 nuclear reactors and imports all of its fuel, more than 30% of which comes from Russia,” said Lee Byung-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies. “Given the protracted war in Ukraine, Korea needs at least limited enrichment rights for energy security.”
The decision on any revision ultimately rests with President Trump. Under the agreement, either country’s leader can suspend implementation for reasons of nuclear proliferation or national security and must notify the other in writing.
“In a structure where President Trump holds full authority, the fact that the issue reached the summit level marks meaningful progress,” a Korean government source told Koreajoongang Daily. “The State Department and Energy Department will have to conduct a full review.”
The HLBC, which has not met since 2018, may resume soon. Its work stalled under former President Moon Jae-in’s nuclear phaseout policy and disputes over intellectual property between US and Korean nuclear companies. At a May 2022 summit, former presidents Yoon Suk Yeol and Joe Biden reaffirmed their intent to restart the HLBC, but it has not convened since.
The government argues that Korea can be the optimal partner for reviving the nuclear industry and is urging the US to ease restrictions on both enrichment and reprocessing. “Securing enrichment and reprocessing rights aligns with US national interests and its non-proliferation strategy,” said Kim Gunn, who served as deputy negotiator in the 2015 talks. “It is not in Washington’s interest for the world to depend on Russian and Chinese reactors. France … has declared technological independence from the United States, but this has led to a decline in competitiveness. Korea is now the only reliable partner that can work with US technology.”
