International Atomic Energy Agency Information Circular (Unofficial electronic edition)

INFCIRC/534 7 April 1997 GENERAL Distr. Original: ENGLISH

1. On 21 March 1997 the Secretariat received a communication of 20 March 1997 from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea transmitting the text of a resolution adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea on the subject of transfer of nuclear waste to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

2. As requested by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea, the text of the resolution^1/ is being circulated for the information of Member States of the Agency.

^1/ The document has been reproduced as received. The designations employed do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the IAEA Secretariat concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area, or of its authorities.

INFCIRC/534
Attachment

KPM-97-57

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the International Organizations in Vienna presents its compliments to the Secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency and has the honour to attach herewith the resolution adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea on the Taiwan-DPRK nuclear waste transfer.

The Permanent Mission requests the Secretariat to circulate to the member states of the IAEA for their information the attached text of the resolution adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency the assurances of its highest consideration.

Vienna, 20 March 1997
Enclosure: as stated

The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea,

Recalling that goodwill and friendship should be the utmost values in relations among neighboring countries, and emphasizing the necessity of preserving the environment for the well-being of future generations as well as of our own generation,

Expressing its deep concern over the serious detrimental effects on the environment that even low and mid-level radioactive waste can cause, particularly taking into account the long-lasting residual consequences of radioactive waste which persist over one hundred years,

Noting that it is a well-established practice that radioactive waste should be disposed of in the state where it was generated, and noting further that it is irresponsible and selfish that Taiwan attempts to transfer radioactive waste to North Korea at the expense of the environment in the region,

Recalling that the European Union (EU) has prohibited all direct and indirect export of radioactive waste to the states in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific in the 1989 Lome Convention whereby declaring that it is not appropriate for the economically and technologically advanced states to export such waste to those states which are not equally advanced,

Firmly believing that the import of radioactive waste into North Korea should not be allowed in any circumstances, as it runs counter to the interest of all Korean people, by seriously contaminating the base of life for Korean people,

Expressing concern that such an irresponsible behavior by North Korea will have a negative impact on the ongoing cooperation projects between North and South Korea, and believing that Taiwan, by calling off its plan to transfer radioactive waste to North Korea, will contribute to the fostering of a more friendly and cooperative relationship in the region,

is unanimously resolved to:

1. Strongly urge Taiwan not to export radioactive waste to North Korea and to revoke any such attempts immediately;

2. Solemnly request in the name of all Korean people that North Korea should not import any radioactive waste not only from Taiwan but from any other country so that a safe and sound environment can be secured for the present and future generations.

Seoul, 10 March 1997