KHNP chief stresses Korea-US nonproliferation cooperation amid 'aggressive' nuclear exports by China, Russia
The head of South Korea's state-run nuclear energy firm underscored the need Monday for South Korea and the United States to work together to reinforce the global nonproliferation regime in the face of "aggressive" nuclear exports from China and Russia.
Whang Joo-ho, president and CEO of the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., made the remarks, voicing hope that "Team Nuclear KORUS" can achieve the allies' common vision of "atoms for peace." KORUS is short for Korea and the United States.
"In regions like the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa, we are seeing aggressive nuclear exports from China and Russia. Indeed, I have concerns about whether these countries are making sufficient efforts to uphold the nonproliferation regime," Whang said at a forum hosted by the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
"To address this, the global community must come together to strengthen nonproliferation and nuclear security," he added.
In nonproliferation endeavors, South Korea can play a key role as a "model" nonnuclear weapon state, Whang said, noting that no single country can tackle the issue alone in the face of major countries' "aggressive expansions."
"Strong US-Korea cooperation is, maybe, a key to reinforcing the nonproliferation and security regime," he said.
"If the US, a pioneer in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and South Korea, a nonnuclear weapon state with technical expertise and a strong non-proliferation record, can join forces as Team Nuclear KORUS, we can turn our shared vision of atoms for peace into reality."
The KHNP CEO also said that the bilateral partnership can be a "practical" tool for expanding the nonproliferation regime for "new comer" countries and countering aggressive moves from other major players in the global nuclear market. (Yonhap)
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