IAEA to Send Inspectors to Korea again

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plans to send an inspection team to South Korea to probe intensively the country’s nuclear experiments, including the plutonium extraction, uranium separation, and the conversion of natural uranium into uranium metal, agency officials said on Monday.

It is believed that inspectors will be sent to Korea after the ongoing IAEA Board of Governors meeting concludes on September 17.

The inspection team is expected to interview scientists involved in a serious of nuclear experiments in the 1980s and investigate whether there had been any government involvement.

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said at the meeting that the agency has many things to do in South Korea. He added that the results of the investigation by the inspection team will be reported in the board`s next session in November.

Japanese government spokesman and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said yesterday that it would be “regretful if true” if South Korea carried out uranium conversion experiments in a facility which was not reported to the IAEA.

Secretary Hosoda told reporters yesterday that he expects South Korea will explain relevant information to its neighboring country Japan and will make a necessary response at the six-way talks for resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue.