South Korea: Seoul's Nuclear Power Options

South Korea's nuclear research institute announced March 14 that it is constructing a test facility capable of reprocessing nuclear fuel without creating weapons-grade plutonium in the process. At present, a treaty with the United States prevents South Korea from reprocessing nuclear fuel, but such treaties have not prevented Seoul from pursuing its aims in the past. While Washington remains concerned that reprocessing could lead to the development of nuclear weapons by Seoul, the new facility could greatly help the South Korean nuclear sector's significant and growing nuclear export sector.