Park Chung-hee’s Nuclear Development Program and the U.S. Foreign Policy

Abstract

This paper analyzes Chung-hee Park’s ambition for nuclear capability and the U.S. response under the Ford administration during the 1970s. The Republic of Korea (ROK)’s nuclear development program became the touchstone for the U.S.-led nuclear non-proliferation regime particularly after India’s “peaceful nuclear explosion” in 1974. The main purpose of this research is to examine the decision making process and negotiations until ROK and the U.S. finally reached their compromise. The intensive archival document analysis elucidates that the U.S.-France negotiations concerning ROK’s nuclear program at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meetings and the role of Richard L. Sneider, the U.S. ambassador to ROK, were mutually interrelated and influenced cancellation of the ROK’s plan for reprocessing plant in 1976.

The diplomatic negotiations proceeded as follows. At the early stage of negotiations, Canada took the initiative to exert diplomatic pressure on ROK, since the U.S. had a prudent attitude to the issue. While the Department of State initially tried to avoid any unilateral U.S. action, the ambassador Sneider pushed the U.S. government to take immediate and resolute action. Under such circumstances, The Department of State intended to inhibit ROK access to sensitive technology and equipment through the development of common NSG policies. Therefore, the U.S. emphasized the importance of the export restrictions and the strengthening of full IAEA safeguards by the NSG. However, the NSG meetings were insufficient for the international consensus.

The moment that the Canada-ROK negotiations turned out to be at a deadlock, the U.S. made use of the negotiations with France so as to justify the point of view of the U.S. in persuading ROK. In dealing with the issue, Sneider’s diplomatic skill was another noteworthy aspect of the U.S. diplomacy. While he conveyed the U.S. firm attitude about the resolution of the problem, he also considered that USG objective of discouraging nuclear proliferation by blocking reprocessing facility in Korea could be achieved without forcing confrontation and humiliating loss of face and prestige for President Park. The consideration of the ROK’s prestige became the basis for peaceful settlement by the U.S.

The U.S. managed to make ROK cancel its nuclear development program by proposing continued nuclear cooperation to higher and more regional levels. On the other hand, ROK looked at the multinational reprocessing facility to see if there was room for ROK access to sensitive technology. It was regarded by ROK as vitally important to its own interests.