During May 21-27, 2006, an 11-member Algerian delegation visited South Korea to discuss bilateral nuclear cooperation. The Algerian delegation was led by Mohamed Derdour, Commissioner of the National Commission on Atomic Energy. [1]

The visit by the Algerian nuclear delegation is part of a larger effort by the senior leadership of both countries to develop a strategic partnership in a number of areas, including energy and economic development. Algeria is interested in expanding its nuclear capacity, while South Korea is interested in gaining access to Algerian oil, gas, and mining resources. The Algerian nuclear delegation visit to South Korea followed the visit of a South Korean nuclear delegation to Algeria in January 2005 and a visit by President Roh Moo-hyun to Algiers in March 2006. [2] [3] Indeed, while the Algerian nuclear delegation was in South Korea, Seoul dispatched a large delegation of government officials and private sector individuals to Algeria to explore joint economic opportunities in the areas of energy, information technology, construction and other areas. [4]

During their stay in South Korea, the Algerian nuclear delegation visited the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, Korea Nuclear Fuel Company, Samyoung Unitech, a nuclear power plant at Yŏnggwang, and Satrec Initiative, a private firm in Taejŏn that provides a number of space-related products and services. [5] According to South Korea’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the delegation is interested in the operation of research reactors, radiation and radioisotopes, commercial nuclear power, the education of nuclear energy personnel, and medical applications of nuclear technology. [6]

According to Taedŏk Net, an Internet daily that covers scientific developments in South Korea, the Algerian delegation consisted of nuclear experts who showed a strong interest in the facilities at Samyoung Unitech, which produces cyclotrons, “hot cells,” and glove boxes. The delegation reportedly had “aggressive and endless questions” and “actively requested permission to study and scrutinize the facilities” during its tour of the company facilities. In particular, press photos appear to show the delegation inspecting Samyoung Unitech hot cells. [7]

Interest in Sensitive Nuclear Technologies
Hot cells are radiologically shielded chambers in which radioactive substances can be examined or processed. They are used in civilian settings for the examination of spent fuel from nuclear reactors and for extracting therapeutic radioactive isotopes from targets irradiated in nuclear reactors. They can also be used, however, to extract weapons-usable plutonium from irradiated uranium. Although hot cells do not provide the capacity for large-scale plutonium separation (“reprocessing”), over time they could be used to extract enough plutonium for a small number of nuclear weapons. Moreover, scientists and engineers could use hot cells to study the properties of plutonium, and later apply this knowledge to a weapons program. As a party to the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), however, Algeria, like South Korea, has pledged not to develop nuclear arms, and all nuclear materials in both countries are under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection to ensure they are not diverted to military purposes.

In past years, nuclear activities in both South Korea and Algeria have raised concerns. South Korea pursued a nuclear weapons program in the early 1970s, which was halted in 1976. Thereafter, South Korea voluntarily chose not to engage in the more sensitive aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, that is, not to “reprocess” spent nuclear reactor fuel to separate its plutonium content and not to engage in uranium enrichment. Both plutonium and enriched uranium (if it is enriched to high levels) can be used as the core of a nuclear weapon. In 1982, South Korean scientists secretly undertook plutonium extraction experiments on a laboratory scale, without informing the IAEA, and in 2000, it engaged in clandestine small-scale uranium enrichment experiments using lasers. Seoul acknowledged both episodes in 2004 and announced it would adhere to four nuclear principles to demonstrate its commitment to nonproliferation. [8] The principles declare that South Korea: 1) has no intention of developing or possessing nuclear weapons; 2) maintains the principle of nuclear transparency and will strengthen cooperation with the international community; 3) will abide by international agreements on nuclear nonproliferation; and 4) will expand the peaceful use of nuclear energy based upon international trust. [9]

In 1991, before Algeria joined the NPT, the United States became concerned that, with Chinese assistance, Algeria was developing a large non-power reactor at Ain Oussera that was intended for a nuclear weapons program. The facility included a small hot cell. At the time, Algeria had not announced whether it would place the complex under IAEA inspection, adding to U.S. suspicions. In 1992, however, under international pressure, Algeria agreed to place the facility under IAEA monitoring, resolving the controversy. Algeria became a party to the NPT in 1995. [10]

Other Delegation Activities
The Algerian delegation also visited Satrec Initiative and is reportedly interested in an environmental radiation detector that Satrec Initiative is developing, but the firm also markets a number of products of possible proliferation concern. For example, the company offers software and hardware for satellites and ground station applications, as well as storage and processing systems for high-speed cameras and images. [11] Certain high-speed cameras are used in the testing of high-explosive packages used to detonate nuclear weapons, although it is not clear whether the cameras supported by Satrec Initiative have this capability.

South Korean Nuclear Energy Plans
The Algerian delegation visit comes at a time when South Korea has begun public hearings on the nation’s “Third Atomic Energy Promotion Plan,” which will commence in 2007. On May 18, 2006, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the Korean Nuclear Society hosted a public forum in Seoul to discuss the draft nuclear energy promotion plan. The five-year plan (2007-2011) reportedly calls for South Korea to continue the development of its 330 MWt SMART reactor and to promote the establishment of an export-oriented nuclear power industry. The draft plan also includes the development of proliferation-resistant fuel cycle technologies and South Korea’s participation in the international development of fourth-generation nuclear reactors. South Korean nuclear activities under the draft plan are to be conducted according to the South Korean government’s four nuclear principles declared in September 2004. [12] The final plan is expected to be approved later this year by the Atomic Energy Commission, which is chaired by the Prime Minister. The plan does not include the enrichment of uranium, but the SMART reactor would require enriched uranium fuel, and it has been recently reported that South Korea has explored the development of a nuclear powered submarine, whose reactor would be based on the SMART system. [See“North Korea Claims South Plans to Produce Nuclear Submarine” in the May 2006 Issue of WMD Insights.] Because no nation has deployed a nuclear submarine without an indigenous source of enriched uranium fuel, future development of the submarine would imply that South Korea would develop the capability to produce enriched uranium as well.

If South Korea succeeds in developing the SMART reactor, Algeria could prove a valuable market for the unit, which is sized for smaller electrical grids and desalinization projects.

Daniel A. Pinkston - Monterey Institute Center for Nonproliferation Studies