File Exploring Options for the Republic of Korea to Secure Uranium Enrichment Rights
The 2015 ROK-U.S. Nuclear Cooperation Agreement established a High-Level Bilateral Commission (HLBC), which provides a framework for discussions on issues related to uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing. This study seeks to explore a range of second-best alternatives that South Korea could employ in future negotiations with the United States, particularly in anticipation of the potential resumption of the HLBC, to secure uranium enrichment rights. Specifically, the study presents several options: a) independent enrichment within South Korea below 5%; b) independent enrichment within South Korea below 10%; c) the introduction of a “black box” model within South Korea for enrichment below 20%; d) bilateral enrichment conducted in the United States below 20%; and multilateral enrichment arrangements below 20%. This approach is called ‘slicing-and-dicing’, through which South Korea could pursue interim and phased measures toward the eventual realization of a complete nuclear fuel cycle.
Chansong C. Lee et al.｜June 15, 2026