Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Korean Security

Posted on Jan 3, 2026 in History

Three Pillars of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

The three pillars of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) are:

  • Non-proliferation: No acquisition or transfer of nuclear weapons.
  • Peaceful use: Nuclear-weapon states guarantee non-nuclear-weapon states’ peaceful use of nuclear energy as an inalienable right of all states (Articles IV and V).
  • Disarmament: Nuclear-weapon states undertake to pursue negotiations in good faith on nuclear disarmament (Article VI).

The Role of the IAEA Safeguards Agreement

The Safeguards Agreement serves to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the authority to verify the fulfillment of a concerned country’s obligation under the NPT. This is done with a view to preventing the diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons.

Nuclear-Weapon States vs. Non-Nuclear-Weapon States

Under the NPT, the criteria and commitments for states are as follows:

Non-Nuclear-Weapon States (NNWS) Commitments:

  • Not to receive, manufacture, or acquire nuclear weapons or control over such weapons (Article II).
  • To begin negotiations for a safeguards agreement on the date of accession to the NPT.
  • To conclude a safeguards agreement within 18 months from the beginning of the negotiation (Article III, paragraph 4).

Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS) Commitments:

Nuclear-weapon states commit not to transfer to any recipients any nuclear weapons or control over such weapons (Article I).

Why North Korea’s Nuclear Program Is Not Tolerated

The international community should not tolerate North Korea’s nuclear program due to the following reasons:

Serious Violations of International Law

  • Violation of the NPT and the Safeguards Agreement.
  • Withdrawal from the treaty does not rectify the illegality of any prior acts.
  • Violation of a series of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
  • Violation of the 1992 Joint Declaration of the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
  • Violation of the 1994 Agreed Framework.
  • Violation of a series of agreements made at the Six-Party Talks.

Serious Threat to International Peace and Security

  • Threat to the NPT regime: North Korea is the only case of a state withdrawing from the treaty.
  • The UN Security Council determined North Korea’s nuclear tests as a “threat to the peace” and “breaches of the peace” by adopting sanction resolutions under Chapter VII.

Core Elements of the 1994 Agreed Framework

In the Agreed Framework concluded between the U.S. and North Korea in 1994, North Korea agreed to:

  • Freeze and eventually eliminate its nuclear facilities.
  • Allow the IAEA to verify compliance through “special inspections.”
  • Allow 8,000 spent fuel rods to be removed to a third country.

Meanwhile, the United States agreed to:

  • Organize the Korean Energy Development Organization (KEDO) to build two light-water nuclear reactors (LWRs) in North Korea.
  • Provide North Korea with 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil annually during the construction of the reactors.
  • Pursue the normalization of relations between the U.S. and North Korea.

Evolution of the ROK-US Alliance: From Patron to Partner

The relationship between South Korea (ROK) and the United States has transitioned from a patron-client dynamic to a comprehensive partnership:

  • Historical Context: Relations began as patron-client after the Korean War, with the U.S. providing large amounts of economic and military aid.
  • Economic Development: With South Korea’s economic growth, it has transitioned to a partnership where:
    • South Korea gradually took over a greater share of its defense burden.
    • South Korea has significantly contributed to U.S. operations abroad.
    • South Korea strongly supported U.S. initiatives by hosting the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit and the 2013 Seoul Conference on Cyberspace.
    • South Korea actively participates in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), both initiated by the U.S.

U.S. leaders often refer to the ROK-US alliance as a “linchpin” for security in the Asia-Pacific region.