sasdoc key odbc SAS_1970s dbo SAS Docs 1808598 dbfields auto_decaption Z auto_decaption capture_date 26 AUG 1999 capture date channel n a channel class SECRET class concepts NUCLEAR AGREEMENTS NUCLEAR COOPERATION PROGRAMS NUCLEAR PO NER PLANTS NUCLEAR REACTORS concepts control_nbr n a control_nbr copy SINGLE copy date 10 JUN 1975 date decaption_date 01 JAN 1960 decaption_date decaptiOn_note decaption_note disp_action n a disp_action disp_approved_on_date disp_approved_on_date disp_authority nla disp_authority disp_case n a disp_case d isp_comment disp_comment disp_date 01 JAN 1960 disp_date disp_event disp_event disp_history n a disp_history disp_reason disp_reason disp_remarks disp_remarks doc_nbr 1975STATE135500 doc_nbr doc_source ADS doc_source doc_unique_id OO doc_unique_id drafter ACDA 0 PDINOLFOWITZ STATE OES HDBENGELSDORF drafter enclosure n a enctosure eo 11652 GDS Ieo errors n a errors film D750202-0833 film from STATE from handling EXDIS handling image_path image_path isecure 1 lise cure legacy_key link 1975 newtextlt197 5061 00 baaaamgc tel legacy_key line_count 308 11ine_count locator TEXT ON-LINE TEXT ON MICROFILM Iocator office ORIGIN SS office origclass a CEGRE'f origclass orighand EXDIS orighand origpclass n a origpclass origphand n a origphand page_count 6 page_count pchannel pchannel pclass n a pclass phandling n a phandling reference n a reference review action WITHDRA NN APPROVED review action review authority CunninFX review_authority review comment n a review comment review content_flags review_content_flags review_date 02 APR 2003 review_date review event review event review exemptions n a review_exemptions review_history WITHDRA NN lt 02 APR 2003 by ElyME REFER TO DOE gt APPROVED lt 22 NW# 50997 Docid 31624890 SEP_2003 by CunninFX gt review history rev1ew_markings Margaret P Grafeld Not releasable under either Executive Order or other law or regulation US Department of State EO Systematic Review OS JUL 2006 review_markings review_media_id review media id review_rete rra Is DOE Ire ew reterra Is review_release_date n a review release date review_release_event n a review release event review_transfer date review transfer date review_withdrawn fields review withdrawn fields secure OPEN secure status NATIVE status subject n a subject tags EFIN ETRD MNUC TECH PARM KS JA TW CH US Itags to SEOUL INFO OTTAWA PARIS TAIPEI TOKYO IAEA VIENNA to type TE type dbfields markings Margaret P Grafeld Not releasable under either Executive Order or other law or regulation US Department of State EO Systematic Review 05 JUL 2006 markings msgtext PAGE 01 STATE 135500 65 ORIGIN S5-25 INFO OCT-01 IS0-00 SS0-00 NSCE-00 026 R DRAFTED BY ACDA D PDWOLFOWITZ STATE OES HDBENGELSDORF APPROVED BY ACOA NWT TDAVIES STATE EA JOZURHELLEN NSC MGUHIN STATE OES MKRATZER SUBS STATEJC JKELL Y NSC RMOLANDER STATEIIO LNCAVANAUGH STA TEIS P JHKALICKI OSO GHARLOW STATE PM LNOSENZO S S-JPMOFFAT STATE L RJBETTAUER EROA ROUFF CIA WSHOWARD - -------- -- 123062 0 R 102316Z JUN 75 FM SECSTATE WASHOC NW# 50997 Docl d 31624890 DECLASSIFIED Aulhority tJw so s1 N YS EDIATE AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY TAIPEI AMEMBASSY TOKYO USMISSION IAEA VIENNA S GBP C GBP T STATE 135500 EX DIS E O 11652 GDS TAGS EFIN ETRD MNUC TECH PARM KS JA TW CH SUBJECT ROK REGIONAL NUCLEAR FUEL REPROCESSING PLANS REF A SEOUL 3374 B SEOUL 2743 C GENEVA 3781 D TOKYO 6997 E STATE 105611 1 WE AGREE THAT CONVERSATION WITH ROKG OFFICIALS ON KOREAN REPROCESSING PLANS REPORTED REFTEL A INVITES MORE OPEN DISCUSSIONS WITH ROKG ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN A PRECEDING CABLE WE HAVE SENT INSTRUCTIONS ON A LIMITED DEMARCHE TO THE ROKG ABOUT OUR INTERPRETATION OF THE PROVISIONS IN THE U S -ROK AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATION CONCERNING REPROCESSING OF FUELS FROM U S REACTORS WE s c T PAGE 02 STATE 135500 DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE NARROW LEGAL CONTEXT IS THE APPROPRIATE ONE IN VVHICH TO RAISE BROADER QUESTIONS OF REPROCESSING IN GENERAL INCLUDING THE QUESTION OF ROK PARTICIPATION IN AN ASIAN REGIONAL REPROCESSING FACILITY THIS MESSAGE OUTLINES THE BACKGROUND AND CONTENT OF SUCH A BROADER APPROACH VVHICH WE HOPE TO MAKE SOON HOVIIEVER WE WISH FIRST TO GIVE CANADA AND FRANCE SOME ADVANCE IDEA OF HOW WE PLAN TO APPROACH ROKG ON THESE BROADER ISSUES IN ORDER TO OBTAIN CANADIAN SUPPORT AND AVOID FRENCH MISINTERPRETATION OF OUR ACTIONS AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE WE PLAN TO ASK YOU TO APPROACH THE KOREANS DIRECTLY ALONG THE LINES OF PARAGRAPH 9 BELOW 2 IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THEIR 0 1 N DOMESTIC REQUIREMENTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE AN ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATION FOR REPROCESSING FOR A VERY LONG TIME THE KOREANS HAVE DEVELOPED A RATIONALE FOR THEIR DESIRE TO ACQUIRE A REPROCESSING CAPABILITY AND MAY ARGUE THAT THEIR NPT STATUS ENTITLES THEM TO DEVELOP SUCH A CAPABILITY HOWEVER WE HESITATE TO CONCLUDE THAT ROK PLANS ARE BASED PRIMARILY ON A DESIRE TO GARNER AS LARGE A PIECE OF FUTURE NUCLEAR BUSINESS AS POSSIBLE quot WHATEVER THEIR PRIMARY MOTIVATION KOREAN REPROCESSING ACTIVITY WILL IN FACT INCREASE THEIR NUCLEAR V 1 APONS POTENTIAL AND IT WILL INEVITABLY RAISE THE MOST SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR NUCLEAR INTENTIONS DESPITE KOREAN RATIFICATION OF THE NPT GIVEN THE EXTREME SENSITIVITY OF THE ISSUES INVOLVED WE MUST GIVE HEAVY VIIEIGHT TO THESE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHILE RECOGNIZING THE OBJECTIVE OF NW# 50997 Doc Id 31624890 DECLASSIFIED Authority W S'o c t PROMOTING KOREAN ECO WE FACE CONCERNS NOMIC GROWTH THE BASIC ISSUE ASSURANCE THAT IT I ENTDHSER THE ROK WILL PROVIDE ADEQUATE IN FACT TO OBSERVE THE NPT 3 WHETHER VVE LIKE IT 0 FORCED BY A NUMBER OFR NOT THIS ISSUE IS GOING TO BE CONGRES COMING EVENTS FOR EXAMPLE RECENTL yS SITION HAS ALREADY DEVELOPED ON THE D PROPOSAL FOR AN EXIMBANK LOAN FOR A SEC AND OND U S POWER REACTOR IN KOREA CONGRESSMAN REES SENATOR STEVENSON HAVE BEEN PERSUADED TO POSTPONE HEARINGS ON THE LOAN PROPOSAL BUT THEY REMAIN KEENLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE IN ADDITION THE DECISION SECRET ' PAGE 03 STATE 135500 PENDING ON EXPORT LICENSE APPROVAL OF THE INITIAL SHIPMENT OF U S FUEL FOR THE KORII REACTOR HAS RAISED HERE AND ON THE HILL CONGRESSMAN ASPIN THE ISSUE OF w-iAT CONTROL VVE HAVE OVER KOREAN REPROCESSING OF U S FUEL UNDER THE TERMS OF OUR AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATION WE HAVE GIVEN YOU OUR VIE NS ON THIS ISSUE IN A SEPARATE MESSAGE SENATOR RIBICOFF HAS NOW PUBLICLY ATTACKED THE FRENCH SALE OF A REPROCESSING PLANT TOROK 4 WE NOTE THAT THE KOREAN CONTENTION REPORTED IN REFTEL A THAT THE PLUTONIUM TO BE PRODUCED WOULD NOT BE quot WEAPONS GRADE IS BASED ON A TECHNICAL DISTINCTION THAT IS INAPPLICABLE TO THE KIND OF NUCLEAR FORCE THE ROK MIGHT ACQUIRE NORMAL REACTOR GRADE PLUTONIUM COULD BE USED IN SOPHISTICATED BOMB DESIGNS OR AT THE COST OF SOME UNCERTAINTY IN YIELD EVEN IN LESS SOPHISTICATED VVEAPONS MOREOVER POWER REACTORS AND PARTICULARLY THE CANDU REACTOR COULD IN FACT BE OPERATED TO PRODUCE PLUTONIUM THAT IS OPTIMAL FOR WEAPONS USE ALTHOUGH AT SOME ECONOMIC COST GIVEN OUR UNEASINESS ABOUT KOREAN NUCLEAR INTENTIONS WE WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE PHYSICAL ACCESS TO WEAPON MATERIAL THAT A REPROCESSING PLANT WOULD GIVE THE ROK 5 IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR EFFORTS TO CONVENE A MEETING OF MAJOR NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS FRANCE HAS ARGUED STRONGLY THAT THE ISSUE OF EXPORTS TO SENSITIVE AREAS SHOULD BE TREATED ON A BILATERAL BASIS BETWEEN SUPPLIERS AND NOT IN A MULTILATERAL FORUM TO DATE WE HAVE DISCUSSED OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE GENERAL ISSUE OF REPROCESSING IN SOME DETAIL WITH THE FRENCH BUT HAVE RAISED OUR SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT KOREA ONLY RECENTLY AND IN RATHER GENERAL TERMS WE HAVE INFORMED FRANCE THAT PRIOR TO THE CONVENING OF THE MULTILATERAL MEETING IN LONDON ON JUNE 18 WE WISH TO HOLD BILATERAL TALKS WITH THEM ON JUNE 17 TO DISCUSS THE KOREAN CASE ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER BILATERAL ISSUES THAT WE OR THE FRENCH HAVE RAISED WE WILL PRESENT OUR CONCERNS ABOUT KOREAN REPROCESSING AT THAT TIME IN SOME DETAIL WHILE THE FRENCH MAY V'IELL PROVE UNWILLING TO WITHDRAW FROM THEIR PILOT PLANT DEAL OUR NW# 50997 Doc Id 31624890 DECLASSIFIED AuthoritytJW 5o S p ATION WILL ALSO BE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THE PAGE 04 STATE 135500 TIGHTEST POSSIBLE SAFEGUARDS AND PHYSICAL SECURITY ON THE PLANT AND ON THE TECHNOLOGY TO URGE A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF SUPPLIER INVOLVEMENT IN THE PLANT OPERATION AND TO DISCOURAGE FRENCH SALE OF A LARGER-SCALE COMMERCIAL FACILITY TO KOREA MOST IMPORTANT WE WILL DISCUSS OUR SPECIAL INTERESTS AND SPECIAL CONCERNS IN THE KOREAN CASE IN ORDER TO INSURE FRENCH UNDERSTANDING THAT IJI E ARE NOT SEEKING COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGE IN EXPRESSING TO THE ROKG OUR DISAPPROVAL OF THE REPROCESSING PLANT TRANSACTION IN THE EVENT THAT FRANCE BASES ITS RESPONSE ON EXISTING CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE THE PILOT PLANT WE WOULD SEEK THEIR CONSENT TO KOREA'S WITHDRAWING FROM THE CONTRACT AND IJI E COULD APPROACH THE KOREANS SIMILARLY IN THIS CONNECTION IJI E WOULD APPREICATE INFORMATION IF AVAILABLE OF ANY FINANCIAL OR OTHER PENALTIES VVHICH CANCELLATION MIGHT INCUR 6 WE HAVE TAKEN A VERY CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO REPROCESSING EVEN IN CASES THAT ARE LESS SENSITIVE THAN THIS ONE AND VVHERE WE HAVE LESS AT STAKE IN OUR PROPOSALS TO OTHER MAJOR NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS IJI E ARE SEEKING TO OBTAIN AGREEMENT THAT REPROCESSING ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE VIEWED AS SPECIALLY SENSITIVE AND THAT IF SUCH ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED THE FACILITY INVOLVED SHOULD BE MULTINATIONAL WITH FULL PARTICIPATION BY THE SUPPLIER IN MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS AND POSSIBLY WITH INVOLVEMENT OF OTHER REGIONAL PARTICIPANTS A REGIONAL PLANT VVHICH PROVIDES SERVICES NEED NOT BE MULTINATIONAL IN VVHICH CASE IT VVOULD NOT AFFORD THE ADDITIONAL INHIBITIONS AGAINST ABROGATION AND DIVERSION VVHICH WE HAVE SOUGHT AND VVOULD BE MERELY A LARGER NATIONAL PLANT WITH CORRESPONDINGLY LARGER RISKS 7 IN ADDITION IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT ANY PLANS FOR REGIONAL REPROCESSING BE DEVELOPED WITH CARE AND WITH ATTENTION TO THE INTERESTS OF OTHER PARTIES FOR EXAMPLE REFTEL C REPORTS A LEADING SPOKESMAN FOR JAPANESE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY R IMAl AS FLATLY RULING OUT KOREA AS quot TOO RISKY quot A LOCATION FOR A REGIONAL REPROCESSING FACILITY AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN MARCH 30 CONVERSATION VVITH DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS A REPRESENTATIVE OF NUCLEAR UTILITIES SERVICES PROPOSED A FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH POSSIBLE SECRET PAGE OS STATE 135500 PARTICIPATION OF ROK AND ROC IN ADDITION TO JAPAN OF A REGIONAL REPROCESSING PLANT THAT COULD BE LOCATED ON U S TERRITORY IN THE PALAU ISLANDS REFTEL D REPORTS ON JAPANESE INTEREST IN THE POSSIBILITY OF A MULTINATIONAL REPROCESSING FACILITY IN THE PHILIPPINES SEPTEL WILL REPORT ON DEPARTMENT DISCUSSIONS VVITH ROC AEC ON POSSIBLE NW# 50997 Docid 31624890 DECLASSIFIED Authority W So Sl FEASIBILITY STUDY OF REGI DEPARTMENT EXP ONAL MULTINATIONAL PLANT REPROCESSING 0 0 SG OPPOSITION TO ANY IN-COUNTRY P'i 1N VE SOME QUESTION IM-iETHER LOCATING SUCH REA WOULD INDEED BE DESIRABLE OR SIBLE AND CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO BE COMMITTED PREMATURELY TO THE ROK AS A LOCATION FINALLY EVEN A MULTINATIONAL PLANT LOCATED OUTSIDE OF KOREA WOULD RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT PLUTONIUM STORAGE IN ROK UNLESS THE RESULTING PLUTONIUM WERE FABRICATED IN A FORM THAT PRECLUDED EASY ACCESS TO WEAPON MATERIAL FEA 9 IN THIS OVERALL CONTEXT WE PLAN TO AUTHORIZE YOU TO APPROACH THE KOREANS AFTER WE HAVE HAD TALKS WITH FRANCE AND CANADA ON THE FOLLOWING LINES --THE U S HAS BEEN GIVING SERIOUS ATTENTION TO KOREA'S ASPIRATION TO ACQUIRE ITS 0 IVN REPROCESSING CAPABILITY STARTING WITH A PILOT FACILITY THAT MIGHT EVOLVE INTO A LARGER-SCALE REGIONAL CAPABILITY ALTHOUGH RECOGNIZING THAT AT SOME FUTURE TIME THE NATIONS IN THE AREA MIGHT FIND IT IN THEIR INTEREST TO DEVELOP A COMMERCIAL-SCALE REPROCESSING CAPABILITY WE HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT KOREA'S MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION AT PRESENT IN PARTICULAR ALTHOUGH KOREA HAS RATIFIED THE NPT KOREAN DETERMINATION TO PROCEED EVEN WITH A PILOT FACILITY COULD BE DESTABILIZING AND COULD IMPAIR U S -KOREAN NUCLEAR RELATIONSHIPS THERE ARE WIDESPREAD CONCERNS IN THIS REGARD WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS WELL AS IN THE CONGRESS THAT ARE VERY LIKELY TO AFFECT THE ABILITY OF THE U S TO MOVE PRIMPTLYON KOREA'S PENDING NUCLEAR REQUESTS SHOULD KOREA CONTINUE IN ITS DESIRE TO ACQUIRE AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL REPROCESSING CAPABILITY STARTING ECRS PAGE 06 STATE 135500 WITH A PILOT FACILITY -- IT IS TO BE NOTED IN THIS REGARD THAT THE ISSUE OF AN EXPORT-IMPORT BANK LOAN FOR THE ROK IS BEFORE CONGRESS THIS LOAN MAY WELL BE DISAPPROVED UNLESS THE CONCERNS WITHIN THEADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS REGARDING REPROCEsSING ARE SATISFIED --ON THE OTHER HAND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE NATIONS IN THE AREA INCLUDING THE ROK MAY IN TIME HAVE LEGITIMATE COMMERCIAL REASONS FOR WISHING TO ACQUIRE THEIR 0 IVN REGIONAL EAST ASIAN REPROCESSING FACILITY THE USG IS PREPARED TO COOPERATE WITH THE NATIONS IN THE REGION IN EXAMINING THIS POSSIBILITY WE BELIEVE IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THE NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE RECENTLY ENDORSED THE CONCEPT THAT FUTURE REPROCESSING FACILITIES BE ESTABLISHED ON SUCH A MULTINATIONAL REGIONAL BASIS NW# 50997 Docl d 31624890 DECLASSIFIED Authority w 5o 1s1 TO EASE PROLIFERATION CON MULTINATIONAL PLANT CERNS VI E LOOK FAVORABLY ON SING NEEDS ECONOMI A YAAWAY OF MEETING ASIA'S REPROCESTO DISCUSS THIS SUBJECT WITND SAFELY AND WOULD BE VltlLLING JAPANESE ASs H THE ROK AND ALSO THE SUCH DISCUSSI LEe BY THE ROK IN REFTEL B H0 1 EVER NUMBER OF A AVE TO BE FREE TO CONSIDER A MENTS FOR 0 E SITES AS WELL AS DIFFERENT ARRANGEVI E BEL AND OPERATION AT THIS JUNCTURE F IEVE IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO PLAN HAVING SUCH A ACILITY LOCATED OUTSIDE THE ROK BUT WITH FULL ROK PARTICIPATION ' -- M-ilLE THERE COULD BE SUBSTANTIAL PLACE FOR ROK PARTICIPATION IN A MULTINATIONAL REGIONAL REPROCESSING FACILITY FOR ASIA WE QUESTION THE WISDOM OF THE ROK PROCEEDING WITH ITS PROPOSED PILOT PLANT OR CONDUCTING DETAILED PLANNING FOR LARGER PLANTS IN THE ABSENCE OF CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH OTHER CONCERNED COUNTRIES-ESPECIALLY JAPAN-- ON QUESTIONS OF DEMAND TIMING TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES ECONOMICS AND PARTICULARLY POTENTIAL LOCATION --ALSO WE BELIEVE IT MUST BE STRESSED THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A REPROCESSING PLANT AS VI E TOLD THE ROC IN SECRET PAGE 07 STATE 135500 REFTEL E IS AN EXPENSIVE RISKY AND COMPLICATED VENTURE AND THERE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL LARGE-SCALE VENTURES BY VERY COMPETENT INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS G E FEW COUNTRIES HAVE ENGAGED IN LARGE-SCALE REPROCESSING IN THE PAST AND THOSE FEW HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY WE BELIEVE IT IMPORTANT TO TAKE A CAREFUL AND DELIBERATE APPROACH IN PLANNING SUCH A COSTLY VENTURE AS A LARGE MULTINATIONAL REPROCESSING FACILITY HOINEVER AS A COMMON PERCEPTION OF PLANS DEVELOPS IN THE REGION THE U S WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER VARIOUS WAYS IN VVHICH IT MIGHT ASSIST A MULTINATIONAL REGIONAL VENTURE AND BECOME A PARTICIPANT IN IT EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH THE PARTICIPATION OF U S INDUSTRY 10 THE PURPOSE OF THIS SUGGESTED APPROACH WOULD BE TO IMPRESS ON THE ROKG THE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS OF ITS PRESENT REPROCESSING PLANS IF THE KOREANS ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY RESPONSIVE TO THIS GENERAL EXPRESSION OF CONCERN WE VIIOULD BE PREPARED AT A MINIMUM TO FOLLOW IT WITH A FIRM STATEMENT OF OUR UNWILLINGNESS TO ALLOW SPENT FUEL FROM U S -SUPPLIED REACTORS TO BE REPROCESSED IN-COUNTRY AND WOULD SEEK TO GET CANADA TO ADOPT A SIMILAR ATTITUDE 11 tGBP WOULD ALSO HOPE TO COOL SOME OF THE KOREAN ENTHUSIASM FOR THEIR REGIONAL REPROCESSING RATIONALE BY EMPHASIZING THE NECESSITY OF DISCUSSING THEIR PLANS WITH THE JAPANESE AND OTHERS FINALLY WE VIIOULD HOLD OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE U S MIGHT LEND ITS SUPPORT TO KOREAN PARTICIPATION IN A MULTINATIONAL NW# 50997 DocZd 31624890 o DECLASSIFIED Authority W 5o'JS I OPERATION BUT PROBABLY ONE NOT REPEAT NOT LOCATED IN THE ROK KI SSINGER n lt END OF DOCUMENT gt gt msgtext sasdoc NW# 50997 Docid 31624890 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu