Nuclear deal backed
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has endorsed a two-year extension of a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with the Republic of Korea, but a key lawmaker is opposing a proposal from Seoul to allow reprocessing of spent fuel.
The committee's top-ranking Republican, Senator Bob Corker, said on Wednesday he couldn't support Seoul's request for advanced technologies because they can be used to produce material for a nuclear weapon.
Corker said that despite Seoul's peaceful intentions, the spread of those technologies could destabilize the Korean Peninsula and undermine any slim hope of getting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to denuclearize.
The ROK says it needs the advanced technologies to expand its nuclear energy industry.
Last April, Washington and Seoul postponed a decision on that.
AP
Instead, they are extending the current pact that expires in March. It faces further legislative steps.
AP
(China Daily 01/17/2014 page10)
