South Korea Hosts 2012 Nuclear Security Summit
![South Korean President Lee Myung-bak makes opening remarks at the start of a plenary session at the Nuclear Security Summit at the Coex Center, in Seoul, South Korea, March, 27, 2012. [AP Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0327_nuclear_security_m.jpg)
Today, the Republic of Korea hosted more than 50 world leaders for the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul. During the opening plenary session, President Barack Obamasaid:
“…This gathering is a tribute to the nations that contribute to security and peace that’s playing a leading role around the globe and that’s taking its rightful place on the world stage. When I hosted the first Nuclear Security Summit two years ago in Washington, there were those who questioned whether our nations could summon the will to confront one of the gravest dangers of our time. In part because it involves a lot of technical… more »
United States-Japan Nuclear Security Working Group Fact Sheet
Since the announcement of establishing the U.S.-Japan Nuclear Security Working Group at the U.S.-Japan Summit meeting in November 2010, this Group has successfully fulfilled its responsibility to identify and coordinate tangible outcomes for the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit, including the promotion of robust security for nuclear materials at civilian nuclear facilities and during transport, by making achievements in the following 9 areas…
In Seoul, President Obama Discusses Efforts To Stop the Spread of Nuclear Weapons
Trilateral Announcement Between Mexico, the United States, and Canada on Nuclear Security
At the March 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea, the Governments of Mexico, the United States, and Canada announced the completion of an important joint nuclear security project to convert the fuel in Mexico’s research reactor from highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU). The project was initiated at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C. in April 2010, and was carried out by the three countries, working closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The full conversion of the reactor from the use of HEU to LEU fuel supports the goal of minimizing the use of HEU for civilian purposes. By converting its research nuclear reactor, Mexico contributes to non-proliferation.
President Calderón stated, “With this decision, Mexico reaffirms its commitment to building a world free of the nuclear threat. Each country must do its share to reach a safer North America and a safer planet. This is a clear example of the significant work we can do together in the North American region.”
This effort, which was conducted and completed under the auspices of the IAEA, benefited from the hard work and dedication of hundreds of individuals from all three countries and the IAEA, and it further strengthens nuclear security in North America.
President Obama stated, “I would like to thank Mexico, Canada and the IAEA for their support of our joint nuclear security efforts. Our strong trilateral partnership, supported by the IAEA, has made our people safer and advanced our international nuclear security effort leading into the Seoul Summit.”
Prime Minister Harper added that “The successful completion of this project demonstrates the concrete steps countries can collectively take in the context of the Nuclear Security Summit. We will continue to work with the United States and Mexico to enhance nuclear security in our region and worldwide.”
The conversion will not only extend the length of time the Mexican reactor can operate with LEU fuel, it also makes the reactor eligible for further program engagement under the IAEA. With the provided fuel, Mexico’s National Institute for Nuclear Research (ININ) also has the potential to increase the reactor power output, which would greatly improve its capabilities for medical and industrial isotope production, silicon doping, neutron radiography, and nuclear physics research such as neutron activation analysis.
President Obama in South Korea
Just midnight on Saturday morning, President Obama boarded Air Force One and departed for a trip to South Korea. After crossing the International Date Line, he arrived in Seoul for a nuclear security summit.
As part of the trip, the President today got a first hand view of North Korea as he toured to the DMZ and met with U.S. troops stationed on the border. He told the servicemen and women, “Everybody back home could not be prouder of what you guys do each and every day — the dedication, the professionalism that you show.”
President Barack Obama is briefed by Lt. Col. Ed Taylor as he views the DMZ from Observation Post Ouellette at Camp Bonifas, Republic of Korea, March 25, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
The President also kicked off the three days of diplomacy with a pair of bilateral meetings — with Prime Minister Lee Myung-bak of South Korea and Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey.
President Barack Obama and President Lee Myung-bak participate in a press conference at the Blue House in Seoul, Republic of Korea, March 25, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Remarks by Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at a Security Council Briefing on Iran and Resolution 1737, in New York on March 21, 2012.
Fact Sheet: Nuclear Security 101
Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
March 21, 2012
The goal of United States Government’s nuclear security programs is the prevention of the illegal possession, use or transfer of nuclear material or other radioactive material. Successful nuclear security relies on an interconnected combination of technology, policy, operational concepts and international collaboration to prevent acts of nuclear terrorism.
The Basics of Nuclear Security include:
- Removing or Eliminating Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) and separated plutonium. Only when nuclear material is completely removed from a site is the threat of nuclear theft completely eliminated because the removal results in permanent threat reduction. HEU and separated plutonium removal and/or disposition is an important effort in securing vulnerable nuclear material worldwide. Twenty-eight nations have plans to eliminate all current stocks of HEU by the end of 2013.
- Upgrading security measures, including physical protection, material control and accounting, at nuclear material and warhead sites around the world to prevent the loss or theft of nuclear material.
- Converting civilian commercial reactors and isotope production facilities to use Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel and targets to reduce global reliance on HEU for research, energy and medical isotopes. Reducing the amount of WMD-usable HEU in the civilian fuel cycle minimizes the threat of nuclear terrorism.
- Deploying radiation detection capabilities, as well as providing training and sustainability support, at high-risk land, sea and air border crossings and strategic locations to provide a backstop to the nuclear site security systems and increases the likelihood that stolen nuclear material will be detected and seized.
- Formulating and implementing international and domestic nuclear nonproliferation strategies, policies, and treaties to combat nuclear terrorism along with international partners.
- Advancing technologies to detect and characterize foreign nuclear weapons programs through continued research and development in the field. Diverting special nuclear materials, strengthening verification and monitoring capabilities for nuclear arms control treaties, and enhancing global nuclear security.
- Advancing nuclear forensics capabilities to trace the origin of seized materials or devices, help identify smuggling networks and aid prosecution efforts of such illicit trafficking, pinpoint vulnerabilities in security measures to ensure nuclear and other radioactive materials remain secured, and build and harmonize foreign nuclear forensics capabilities.
Nuclear Security vs. Nuclear Safety: Nuclear security pertains to the prevention of nuclear material theft, nuclear smuggling and terrorism while nuclear safety deals with the practices and safeguards to keep nuclear facilities and workers safe.
![President Barack Obama deliver remarks at Hankuk University in Seoul, South Korea, March 26, 2012. [AP Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0326_obama_hankuk_m.jpg)
