South Korea's Hopes for 'Peaceful Nuclear Sovereignty'

South Korea and the United States will begin negotiations Oct. 25 on revisions to their bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement. Under the pact, signed in 1974, Seoul must get Washington's permission to enrich uranium and reprocessed used nuclear fuel — a provision that Seoul says impedes its ambitious nuclear energy program. The United States will have concerns stemming from its nonproliferation efforts elsewhere around the world, as well as from the potential for increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula.