IAEA says Korea notifies intent to consult on safeguards arrangement for nuclear-powered subs

Korea has formally notified the International Atomic Energy Agency of its intention to begin consultations on safeguards for envisioned nuclear-powered submarines. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the talks are under Article 14 of Korea’s comprehensive safeguards agreement and that Seoul has reiterated its commitment to the NPT, the CSA, and the Additional Protocol. Korea says it is proceeding through the necessary procedures transparently. The government aims to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine in the mid-2030s and deploy it in the late 2030s.

Grossi said Korea has formally notified the IAEA Secretariat of its intention to start consultations on an arrangement under Article 14 of its comprehensive safeguards agreement.

Article 14 allows a country to use nuclear material for non-nuclear military purposes, such as nuclear-powered naval propulsion, under an arrangement with the IAEA.

Seoul has reiterated its commitment to fulfill its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the CSA, and the Additional Protocol.

Korea aims to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine in the mid-2030s and deploy it with the Navy in the late 2030s.

Published Sep 8, 2026 10:41 am KST

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi looks on at the start of the Board of Governors Meeting at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, Monday (local time). AFP-Yonhap

Korea has formally notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intention to begin consultations on a safeguards arrangement for envisioned nuclear-powered submarines, the agency chief has said.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi made the remarks during the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on Monday (local time), as Korea pushes to build conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines following security agreements reached at a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in October last year.

According to a statement provided by his office, Grossi said, with regard to nuclear-powered submarines, Korea "has formally notified the Secretariat of its intention to start consultations with the Agency on an arrangement pursuant to Article 14 of its comprehensive safeguards agreement (CSA)."

Article 14 of the CSA allows a country to use nuclear material for non-nuclear military purposes, such as nuclear-powered naval propulsion, under an arrangement with the IAEA.

Seoul has "reiterated its commitment to fulfill its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the CSA and the Additional Protocol" and has provided the agency with the relevant declarations, Grossi said, adding he looks "forward to the continuation of our consultations in the same spirit of transparency."

Under the NPT, non-nuclear-weapon states are prohibited from using nuclear material for nuclear weapons purposes and are required to accept IAEA safeguards to verify that their nuclear activities remain peaceful. Korea has a CSA with the IAEA as part of its nonproliferation obligations.

"We are proceeding with the necessary procedures to demonstrate that we are taking a transparent approach," an official of Seoul's foreign ministry said.

At a press conference in June, Grossi said a solid agreement between Korea and the IAEA should alleviate any proliferation concerns related to Seoul's nuclear-powered submarine project. He added discussions between the two sides on an Article 14 arrangement were at an early stage.

Korea has set a goal of launching its first nuclear-powered submarine in the mid-2030s and deploying it with the Navy in the late 2030s.

韩国已正式通知国际原子能机构，其计划就拟建核动力潜艇的保障监督问题展开磋商。国际原子能机构总干事拉斐尔·格罗西表示，此次磋商依据韩国全面保障监督协定第14条进行，首尔重申了其对《不扩散核武器条约》、《全面保障监督协定》及其附加议定书的承诺。韩国表示，正在以透明的方式推进必要程序。韩国政府计划在2030年代中期建造首艘核动力潜艇，并在2030年代后期投入使用。

格罗西表示，韩国已正式通知国际原子能机构秘书处，打算根据其全面保障监督协定第 14 条的规定，就一项安排展开磋商。

第 14 条允许一国在与国际原子能机构达成协议的情况下，将核材料用于非核军事目的，例如核动力海军推进。

首尔重申了其履行《不扩散核武器条约》、《全面安全协议》和《附加议定书》项下义务的承诺。

韩国计划在 2030 年代中期建造第一艘核动力潜艇，并在 2030 年代后期将其部署到海军服役。

发布于2026年9月8日上午10:41（韩国标准时间）

国际原子能机构（IAEA）总干事拉斐尔·格罗西周一（当地时间）在奥地利维也纳的机构总部出席理事会会议开幕式。法新社-韩联社

国际原子能机构（IAEA）负责人表示，韩国已正式通知该机构，打算就设想中的核动力潜艇的保障监督安排展开磋商。

国际原子能机构总干事拉斐尔·格罗西周一（当地时间）在维也纳举行的国际原子能机构理事会会议上发表了上述言论。此前，韩国总统李在明和美国总统唐纳德·特朗普去年10月举行峰会并达成安全协议，韩国正努力建造常规武装的核动力潜艇。

根据其办公室提供的一份声明，格罗西表示，关于核动力潜艇，韩国“已正式通知秘书处，其打算根据其全面保障监督协定（CSA）第14条的规定，与该机构就一项安排展开磋商”。

《共同体协议》第 14 条允许一国在与国际原子能机构达成协议的情况下，将核材料用于非核军事用途，例如核动力海军推进。

格罗西表示，首尔“重申了履行其在《不扩散核武器条约》（NPT）、《全面安全协议》（CSA）和《附加议定书》下的义务的承诺”，并已向该机构提供了相关声明。他还补充说，他“期待本着同样的透明精神继续进行磋商”。

根据《不扩散核武器条约》，无核武器国家被禁止将核材料用于核武器目的，并须接受国际原子能机构的保障监督，以核查其核活动是否仍然用于和平目的。韩国已与国际原子能机构签署了《核安全协议》，作为其不扩散义务的一部分。

首尔外交部一位官员表示：“我们正在采取必要的程序，以表明我们采取的是透明的做法。”

格罗西在6月份的新闻发布会上表示，韩国与国际原子能机构达成一项切实可行的协议，应该能够消除首尔核动力潜艇项目可能引发的任何扩散担忧。他还补充说，双方就第14条安排进行的讨论尚处于早期阶段。

韩国已设定目标，在 2030 年代中期建造第一艘核动力潜艇，并在 2030 年代后期将其部署到海军服役。