외교부

KEYNOTE SPEECH

 
Dong-seok Min, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of Korea
Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism Plenary Meeting
30 June, 2011   Daejeon, Korea

 
Good morning, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Welcome to Daejeon, the heart of nuclear science and technology in Korea. The Republic of Korea is proud to be hosting this year’s Plenary Meeting of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT). I thank and welcome each of the delegations that have joined us here today. In particular, I wish to thank the co-chairs, Ambassador Berdennikov and Assistant Secretary Van Diepen, for their strong leadership in moving the Global Initiative forward. Mr. Torres and the Working Group leaders have also worked very hard to coordinate and lead Implementation Assessment Group (IAG) activities. We look forward to your continued contribution and efforts.
 
The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Nuclear terrorism is one of the most challenging threats that the international community faces today. In fact, the chances that nuclear materials will be misused for malicious purpose are higher today than ever before due to inadequate control or protection measures, particularly in vulnerable regions.
 
The IAEA reports more than 200 cases of illicit trafficking, theft, and losses of nuclear and radioactive materials a year. Risks associated with radioactive materials, which can be used to make a ‘dirty bomb,’ are also very pertinent threats as they are much more easily accessible in hospitals and laboratories. The rising number of nuclear power plants around the world increases the possibility of sabotage of nuclear facilities.
 
 
These are no small concerns, as any such incident involving the misuse of nuclear materials, whether big or small, will have very grave physical, financial, and psychological consequences on a scale beyond our imagination. It is a threat we must never allow to happen.
 
Protecting Humankind and the Environment
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
We have over 60 Member states and observer organizations represented here in Daejeon today. We are here because we share the goal of strengthening nuclear security to protect humankind and the environment. It is the foundation for achieving the three pillars of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT): nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
 
The Republic of Korea is a leading country in the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear energy. It is today the world’s fifth largest nuclear energy country and an exporter of nuclear power reactors. Korea currently operates 21 nuclear power plants; we have plans to increase that number to 34 by 2024 to generate nearly half of our electricity. Our nuclear power plants have also one of the safest records in the world. I am sure you will have the opportunity to observe our advanced nuclear technology during the Technical Tour program at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) this afternoon.
 
Nuclear energy needs to continue to play a vital role in mitigating the effects of climate change and solving energy shortage problems. It is true that recent developments in Japan have cast doubt for some on the future of nuclear energy, not only from a nuclear safety aspect, but also given the possibility that the same effects can be caused by terrorists purporting to sabotage nuclear facilitates. Yet just as the Chernobyl accident in 1986 served to catalyze major reforms in international norms on nuclear safety, we should take this chance to review and strengthen our nuclear security standards.
 
One important step toward that end is to strengthen the international legal framework on nuclear security by achieving universality of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (CPPNM) and its 2005 Amendment, and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). The Republic of Korea plans to submit the two conventions to the National Assembly for ratification shortly.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
At the same time that we need to promote the continued development of nuclear energy, we are reminded that the unique nature of nuclear technology calls for the utmost attention to safety, security, and safeguards. Great powers and opportunities come with great responsibilities.
 
The potential danger of nuclear energy is well illustrated by North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of international norms and obligations. During the last few decades, Pyongyang has taken actions that undermine the very basis of the non-proliferation regime, announcing its withdrawal from the NPT, conducting two nuclear tests and pursuing a uranium enrichment program (UEP). Moreover, it is believed to be engaged in various proliferation activities of nuclear programs and missile technology. We are also concerned about the safety of North Korea’s nuclear facilities, given its failure to comply with international standards and practices in constructing facilities.
 
Against these actions, the international community must show North Korea that it is facing a unified and resolute front, urging it to abandon all nuclear programs including UEP and cease all related activities in full compliance with UN Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874. In particular, the international community needs to declare in one voice that North Korea’s pursuit of UEP is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions and contrary to the 2005 Joint Statement. In this regard, we appreciate the G-8 Declaration adopted last May condemning North Korea’s UEP as a violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
 
Alongside our efforts to deter North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, my government will also work toward resuming dialogue. With inter-Korean dialogue as an essential starting point, we will cooperate with our Six-Party Talks partners on securing actions from Pyongyang that prove its sincerity and preparedness toward denuclearization. In this regard, we urge North Korea responds to our proposal for inter-Korean dialogue on denuclearization.
 
Combating Nuclear Terrorism through GICNT and Nuclear Security Summit
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
It is clear that we must gather all our efforts and resources to combat nuclear terrorism. The threat of nuclear terrorism cannot be challenged alone: nuclear terrorism involves the smuggling of nuclear materials across national boundaries and terrorist cells that spread over several countries; it has consequences on a global scale.
 
This is why the Global Initiative needs to continue to play a bigger role in bringing together the expertise and experience of member states and relevant international organizations; integrating resources and sharing information to help members enhance core competencies. The activation of the Implementation Assessment Group and the establishment of the two Working Groups at last year’s plenary in Abu Dhabi are significant achievements in this direction.
 
The Republic of Korea welcomes such developments in transforming the GICNT into a more effective and action-oriented institution, and anticipates further discussions at this Plenary and beyond to strengthen international efforts to address all areas covered in the Global Initiative Principles. We remain firmly committed to implementing these goals and will support any activity toward achieving them.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
The Republic of Korea will also be hosting the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit. As you are all aware, in his Prague speech in 2009, President Obama announced his goal to “secure all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world within four years,” and initiated the first Nuclear Security Summit in the following year. The 2010 Summit succeeded in gathering 47 world leaders to Washington under the goal of strengthening nuclear security, concerted in the recognition that nuclear terrorism is a threat that is relevant for both developed and developing countries, nuclear and non-nuclear states.
 
It is noteworthy that the Communique and Work Plan which were adopted at the Washington Summit affirmed the GICNT’s contributions to global efforts to combat nuclear terrorism, and urged participating states and international organizations to enhance capacities and international cooperation in the field of nuclear forensics and nuclear detection, which are two current priority focus areas of the Global Initiative. Discussion on these areas will continue to be developed simultaneously within the GICNT and the Nuclear Security Summit process in a mutually reinforcing manner.
 
Next year’s Seoul Nuclear Security Summit will aim to reflect and coordinate the activities of participating countries as well as various international organizations and initiatives with the aim of contributing to the development of a durable international nuclear security framework. In fact, I am aware that many of you present here today at the GICNT Plenary have just come from the Seoul Sous-Sherpa Meeting which was held this Monday and Tuesday; at the Sous-Sherpa Meeting, we had an active discussion on the topics to be discussed at next year’s Summit. As an extension of the work done since the Washington Summit, the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit will lay the valuable political ground to add impetus to and further strengthen the Global Initiative at the highest level. Our government is fully committed to making the 2012 Seoul Summit a success.
 
In Conclusion
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
It is said that one should be prepared for the worst-case scenario with regard to security issues; in this sense, we should not neglect to address even the slightest possibilityof nuclear terrorism. It is never enough to stress the importance of preventing and countering nuclear terrorism, both through strong national measures and international cooperation.
 
I look forward to insightful and constructive debates at this 2011 Plenary Meeting, and would like to wish you every success in ensuring highly fruitful outcomes.
 
Thank you.