South Korea Notifies IAEA of Intent to Consult on Nuclear-Powered Submarine Safeguards

South Korea has formally notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intention to begin consultations regarding a safeguards arrangement for planned nuclear-powered submarines. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced this during a Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on Monday. The move follows security agreements reached in October of last year during a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The consultations will focus on an arrangement pursuant to Article 14 of the comprehensive safeguards agreement (CSA). This specific article allows a country to utilize nuclear material for non-nuclear military purposes, such as naval propulsion, provided there is an agreement with the IAEA. South Korea intends to build submarines that are nuclear-powered but conventionally armed.

Director General Grossi stated that Seoul has reiterated its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the CSA, and the Additional Protocol. He noted that South Korea has provided the necessary declarations and that he looks forward to continuing consultations in a spirit of transparency. A South Korean foreign ministry official stated that the government is following necessary procedures to demonstrate a transparent approach.

Under the NPT, states without nuclear weapons are prohibited from using nuclear material for weapons and must accept IAEA safeguards to verify peaceful use. Grossi previously mentioned in June that a solid agreement should alleviate proliferation concerns, though he noted that discussions were in the early stages. South Korea aims to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine in the mid-2030s and deploy it by the late 2030s.