South Korea to pursue multifront nuclear submarine talks with US starting next year

South Korea will pursue multifront discussions next year with the United States on building its first nuclear-powered submarine, including talks on uranium enrichment and the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, according to security officials Sunday. During National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac's latest visit to Washington, the two sides agreed to forge a separate bilateral agreement under Section 91 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, which authorizes the U.S. president to approve the transfer of nuclear materials for military use. "Rather than setting priorities, we will launch all of them at once," Wi was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency. "Talks on uranium enrichment, spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and nuclear-powered submarines will all be pursued simultaneously between South Korea and the United States starting early next year." The two countries have reached a shared understanding on the need for follow-up consultations to implement agreements reached at the summit level, he said, adding that substantive, sector-specific talks will begin in earnest next year. During his two-day t