Elliott Kang, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation, stated today (June 26) that South Korea-U.S. cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines must be pursued under non-proliferation standards equivalent to those of AUKUS, the security partnership between the U.S., the U.K., and Australia.

"AUKUS involves full engagement from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and applies the highest level of safeguards," Kang said. "If South Korea commits to the same level of nuclear non-proliferation standards, there is no reason to hesitate regarding nuclear submarine cooperation."

He added, "If a structure is created where South Korea receives High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) from the U.S., it would also serve as a tremendous catalyst for civilian nuclear cooperation."

Susan Thornton, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, also noted, "President Donald Trump is recalibrating alliance relationships into more equal partnerships." She added, "Cooperation on nuclear submarines and nuclear energy will also make the bilateral relationship more equal, mutually beneficial, and broader and closer."

While expressing support for South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines from a political and diplomatic perspective, Kang warned, "The moment arguments for South Korea to 'possess nuclear weapons' emerge, the negotiations become much more complex."

Regarding the South Korean government's expectation of achieving results within the year through follow-up consultative bodies on nuclear submarines and nuclear cooperation, Kang drew a line, stating, "It could take longer than a year."

He explained, "The ROK-U.S. civilian nuclear cooperation framework itself requires significant changes, and the ROK-U.S. Atomic Energy Agreement from a decade ago also took several years to conclude."

Furthermore, noting that a separate agreement is required under U.S. nuclear law to procure fuel for nuclear-powered submarines, he added, "This is not a matter that the administration can decide solely based on political will, and the November midterm elections are also an important variable."

"Above all, patience is required," he emphasized. "The public must also have patience, and the government must pursue negotiations both swiftly and patiently."

(Photo: Yonhap News)