International Scholars Discuss North Korea Nuclear Measures and Future Nuclear Technology

KAIST to Host '2021 NEREC International Nuclear Nonproliferation Conference' Online from 3rd to 5th

Nuclear power plant. Stock photo.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] International scholars are gathering to discuss North Korea's nuclear issue, nuclear non-proliferation, and future nuclear technology.

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) will hold the '2021 NEREC International Nuclear Non-Proliferation Conference,' the premier academic conference in the field of nuclear non-proliferation, online from the 3rd to the 5th for three days.

Now in its 8th year, the NEREC International Nuclear Non-Proliferation Conference is an annual international meeting led by the private sector to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology. It has been hosted by the KAIST Nuclear Non-Proliferation Education and Research Center since 2014.

Unlike fossil energy, which is likely to be depleted, nuclear technology can produce efficient energy from a small amount of fuel. At the same time, it has a dual-use nature that, if diverted for military purposes, leads to the horizontal proliferation of nuclear weapons development. Therefore, the international community is making policy and technical efforts under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to ensure that the use of nuclear technology does not lead to nuclear proliferation.

The NEREC International Nuclear Non-Proliferation Conference is part of international and academic efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation. Every year, it has developed into a forum involving major advanced nuclear countries such as South Korea, the United States, China, Russia, Japan, as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and related think tanks.

Top researchers from academia and policy and technical experts gather to evaluate and analyze global nuclear proliferation trends, discuss concrete policy alternatives to strengthen nuclear non-proliferation, and explore ways to contribute to peace on the Korean Peninsula through the use of nuclear technology. This year’s conference will hold in-depth discussions on five main topics: ▲ the trend of nuclear use emerging as a response to climate change and the potential nuclear non-proliferation threats ▲ nuclear proliferation risks and international responses in 2021 ▲ the feasibility of technical and diplomatic approaches to convert North Korea’s nuclear weapons development capabilities into nuclear energy development capabilities ▲ future-oriented solutions for the deadlocked denuclearization of North Korea ▲ concerns about small modular reactors (SMRs), the next-generation innovative reactors, and technical and policy responses.

The conference will feature welcome remarks from KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee and Robert Floyd, the new Secretary-General of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) under the United Nations (UN). Keynote speeches will be delivered by Scott Sagan, the Caroline S.G. Munro Professor at Stanford University; Chung-in Moon, Chairman of the Sejong Institute; and Laura Holgate, Vice Chair of the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).

Domestic institutions participating include KAIST, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control, the Sejong Institute, and the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Over 40 scholars and experts from 26 universities and research institutions across eight countries will participate as speakers, including Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Argonne National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories in the U.S., the IAEA and CTBTO, Russia’s Center for Energy Strategy Studies (CENESS), and China’s Fudan University.

Two sessions of the Young Generation Session, composed of next-generation experts, will also be held. This forum allows emerging leaders to propose new and innovative ideas on unresolved issues such as the nuclear non-proliferation crisis facing the international community and ways to achieve North Korea’s denuclearization, which are then developed through discussions with senior experts.

Professor Man-Sung Im of KAIST’s Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering said, "The world is witnessing unprecedented changes due to COVID-19, but efforts for technological innovation to sustain the use of nuclear technology and challenges to resolve nuclear non-proliferation and North Korean nuclear issues continue unabated," adding, "This conference was organized to seek urgent solutions to nuclear issues we face in the current era and on the Korean Peninsula."

The event will be broadcast live through the online video conferencing platform Zoom and YouTube for presentations and discussions.