FPN03-35

Korea Joins ITER Negotiations

June 29, 2003

The Republic of Korea has joined the negotiations to construct the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), becoming the seventh Party. The others are European Union, Japan, Russia, Canada, United States and China.

In a May 30 letter requesting approval of the other Parties, subsequently received, South Korean Minister of Science and Technology Ho-Koon Park stated "I am honored to announce that our government formally requests to join the on-going negotiations on the Joint Implementation of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project." He said, "Korea intends to provide a substantial contribution to the Joint Implementation of ITER, comparable to what is currently envisaged by some of the Participants in the present Negotiations, and is willing to participate in the ITER Transitional Arrangements."

The full text of the letter is posted at http://fire.pppl.gov