U.S. Against Resumption of S.Korean Nuclear Program

Photo: Ellen Tauscher testifies at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in Washington on her nomination to become Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security on June 9. AP

From Chosun Ilbo:

The U.S. administration made it clear to Congress that it is against restoring South Korea's peaceful nuclear program by means of reprocessing spent fuel, advanced mainly by the ruling Grand National Party.

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher made the point in an 85-page answer to Senator Richard Lugar, the senior Republican member of the Foreign Relations Committee, in the course of her confirmation hearing on June 9.

The relevant section has two parts. Lugar asks, "Does the administration contemplate any changes in existing nuclear cooperation agreements, in particular those with Taiwan and the Republic of South Korea, to allow reprocessing of U.S.-origin materials in those nations?"

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My Comment: My South Korean friends find these remarks insulting. The idea of another country .... including the U.S. telling them what to do .... only makes them more determined to proceed with their own nuclear program.

If South Korea determines to proceed with a nuclear program, they will do it independent from the U.S. .... and what can we do then? Take out our troops that are in the country .... hmmmm .... I know that they will live with that.

They are better ways to conduct foreign policy .... but sometimes the diplomacy that comes out of this White House only aggravates and rankles our allies and close friends ... and this is a trend that our enemies are noticing.