S. Korea's nonproliferation commitment 'full, unambiguous' amid nuclear-powered subs push: IAEA chief

▲ Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, speaks to reporters in Seoul on April 15, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

▲ Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, speaks to reporters in Seoul on April 15, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

IAEA chief-S Korea

S. Korea's nonproliferation commitment 'full, unambiguous' amid nuclear-powered subs push: IAEA chief

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has shown a "full" and "unambiguous" commitment to nonproliferation, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Wednesday, underscoring the importance of "ironclad" assurances that efforts such as its nuclear-powered submarine initiative are unrelated to nuclear weapons.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi made the remarks, highlighting that it is crucial to work with the agency to ensure any such programs advance based on a safeguard arrangement in line with IAEA standards.

"I have been assured by the statements by Foreign Minister Cho, that he said the ROK will maintain its nuclear nonproliferation commitments to the full," Grossi said in a press conference during his two-day trip to Seoul.

The ROK is short for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.

"The statements have been unambiguous and I believe (they are) very important so as to prevent other countries from believing that we are in an unbridled race towards nuclear weapons," he said.

Seoul is seeking to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under a joint summit agreement with the United States, along with efforts to secure uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing capabilities for civil purposes.

The move has posed a key challenge for Seoul to build international trust that the efforts are aimed at strengthening naval capabilities and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Cho has firmly dismissed nuclear latency concerns.

"It's essential that ... everyone who's going to be involved in this process to have an ironclad guarantee that this activity is not conducive to nuclear proliferation," Grossi said.

Grossi was set to meet Cho later in the day to discuss what he said will be a "kickoff" of conversations between the IAEA and South Korea on the issue.

"These are processes that do not take place overnight," he said.

Regarding North Korea, Grossi said the IAEA has so far detected no signs of a possible transfer of Russian nuclear technology to Pyongyang since their close military alignment, although it is too early for a concrete judgment.

"We haven't seen anything in particular in that regard," he said. "We have references to civilian nuclear projects, not anything related to nuclear weapons. We hope that this will be the scope of their cooperation."

Despite the limitations to IAEA assessments due to the inability to conduct on-site inspections after the North expelled its inspectors from the country in 2009, Grossi reaffirmed the agency's evaluation that its nuclear capabilities have greatly increased in terms of sophistication.

"The IAEA will continue to make its technical contribution (regarding the North's nuclear programs)," he said, also noting that the agency is paying close attention to the possibility of resuming dialogue between the U.S. and the North.

Grossi, who is a candidate for the next U.N. secretary general, said the upcoming selection process, set for later this year, comes at a particularly critical moment when the global body needs to restore trust and effectiveness amid armed conflicts and rising tensions.

"This is a reflection of a profound crisis of credibility of the U.N., which we need to restore," he said. "I firmly believe in the importance of multilateral institutions. ... If I'm elected, I could be in a position to start this process, a common endeavor ... to make the U.N. an institution that makes a difference for the good."

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