Nuclear industry signs key agreement with U.S.

Korea and the United States have agreed to cooperate on fourth-generation nuclear reactors and atomic fuel reprocessing, the Ministry of Science and Technology said yesterday.
The decision to cooperate on sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFR) and pyro-processing was reached at a meeting between Korea’s Science Minister Kim Woo-sik and U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman.
SFR is a U.S.-designed reactor that can better manage high-level wastes like plutonium. It has more safety features than conventional reactors and is more efficient because it can use a wider range of fuel sources.
Pyro-processing is designed to store spent nuclear fuel in a way that contributes to global non proliferation efforts. Kim, who met with Bodman in the U.S. last week, also exchanged views on expanding bilateral ties as Washington moves to expand its use of nuclear power generation in accordance with the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) plan, announced in February 2006.
Under the plan, the United States will increase nuclear power production while simultaneously designing and selling small-sized reactors and related technologies suitable for emerging economies.
The GNEP could allow the export of South Korean nuclear components to the U.S. and foreign markets.
Korea has steadily built nuclear power plants since the 1970s and now has 20. Korea designs its own reactors and is moving to export them abroad.
In addition to nuclear cooperation, the two policymakers discussed details of the “Nuclear Cooperation Agreement” scheduled to be signed by Seoul and Washington in the first half of 2008, as well as the progress being made with the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project.
Kim, meanwhile, visited the Kennedy Space Center in Florida earlier in the week to view the rocket launch facilities. Seoul said it views the U.S. rocket launch facility as a benchmark as it moves to complete its own Naro Space Center. The Korean space center, located on the southern coast, will launch its first rocket late next year.

Yonhap