S. Korean Experiments With Enriched Uranium Disclosed

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-skorea3sep03.story
THE WORLD
S. Korean Experiments With Enriched Uranium Disclosed
The U.N. atomic agency seeks to gauge Seoul's efforts, which could embarrass the U.S. and bolster North Korea in nonproliferation talks.
By Barbara Demick
Times Staff Writer

September 3, 2004

SEOUL — The U.N. nuclear watchdog is investigating an incident in which South Korean scientists at a large government research institute secretly experimented with highly enriched uranium, nuclear material that could be used in making a bomb.

Although only a minuscule amount of uranium was involved, the revelation could prove highly embarrassing to South Korea and awkward for the United States as it wrestles with the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran.

The South Korean government said Thursday that it had voluntarily reported the experiment to the International Atomic Energy Agency and would ensure that it didn't happen again.

The Vienna-based IAEA took the information seriously enough to immediately dispatch a seven-member inspection team to South Korea on Sunday. The team is examining the experiments to determine the extent of South Korea's enrichment effort and the sources of the material and components used in the test.<snip>

[IA_Seth]

1. Blowback

I am currently reading a book titled "Blowback" by Chalmers Johnson that has really enlightened me regarding US/North Korea/South Korea/China/Japan relations.

I would recommend it highly to those that are just starting to read on this subject.

Anybody read this?