We,
the leaders, gathered in Seoul on March 26-27, 2012, renew the political
commitments generated from the 2010 Washington Nuclear Security Summit to work
toward strengthening nuclear security, reducing the threat of nuclear
terrorism, and preventing terrorists, criminals, or other unauthorized actors
from acquiring nuclear materials. Nuclear terrorism continues to be one of the
most challenging threats to international security. Defeating this threat
requires strong national measures and international cooperation given its
potential global political, economic, social, and psychological consequences.
We
reaffirm our shared goals of nuclear disarmament, nuclear nonproliferation and
peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Committed
to seeking a safer world for all, we also all share the objective of nuclear
security. We recognize that the Nuclear Security Summit is a valuable process
at the highest political level, supporting our joint call to secure all
vulnerable nuclear material in four years. In this regard, we welcome the
substantive progress being made on the political commitments of Participating
States since the Washington Summit.
We
stress the fundamental responsibility of States, consistent with their
respective national and international obligations, to maintain effective
security of all nuclear material, which includes nuclear materials used in
nuclear weapons, and nuclear facilities under their control, and to prevent
non-state actors from acquiring such materials and from obtaining information
or technology required to use them for malicious purposes. We likewise
recognize the fundamental responsibility of States to maintain effective
security of other radioactive materials.
We
reaffirm that measures to strengthen nuclear security will not hamper the
rights of States to develop and utilize nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Noting
the essential role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in
facilitating international cooperation and supporting the efforts of States to
fulfill their nuclear security responsibilities, we further stress the
importance of regional and international cooperation, and encourage States to
promote cooperation with and outreach activities to international partners.
Noting
the Fukushima accident of March 2011 and the nexus between nuclear security and
nuclear safety, we consider that sustained efforts are required to address the
issues of nuclear safety and nuclear security in a coherent manner that will
help ensure the safe and secure peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
We
will continue to use the Washington Communiqué and Work Plan as a basis for our
future work in advancing our nuclear security objectives. At this Seoul Summit,
we agree that we will make every possible effort to achieve further progress in
the following important areas.
Global
Nuclear Security Architecture
1.
We recognize the importance of multilateral instruments that address nuclear
security, such as the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material
(CPPNM), as amended, and the International Convention for the Suppression of
Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). We therefore encourage the universal
adherence to these Conventions. We urge states in a position to do so to
accelerate their domestic approval of the 2005 Amendment to the CPPNM, seeking
to bring the Amendment into force by 2014. We acknowledge the important role of
the United Nations (UN) in promoting nuclear security, support the UN Security
Council Resolutions 1540 and 1977 in strengthening global nuclear security, and
welcome the extension of its mandate. We will strive to use the IAEA Physical
Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities (INFCIRC/225/Rev.5)
document and related Nuclear Security Series documents, and reflect them into
national practice.
2.
We recognize the contributions since the 2010 Summit of international
initiatives and processes such as the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear
Terrorism (GICNT) and Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and
Materials of Mass Destruction, within their respective mandates and
memberships. We welcome the wider participation in the GICNT and the Global
Partnership and value its extension beyond 2012. Noting the importance of
strengthening coordination and complementarity among
nuclear security activities, we welcome the proposal of the IAEA to organize an
international conference in 2013. We welcome contributions from the industry,
academia, institutes and civil society that promote nuclear security.
Role
of the IAEA
3.
We reaffirm the essential responsibility and central role of the IAEA in
strengthening the international nuclear security framework, and recognize the
value of the IAEA Nuclear Security Plan 2010-2013. We will work to ensure that
the IAEA continues to have the appropriate structure, resources and expertise
needed to support the implementation of nuclear security objectives. To this
end, we encourage States in a position to do so and the nuclear industry to
increase voluntary contributions to the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Fund, as well
as in-kind contributions. We also encourage continued IAEA activities to
assist, upon request, national efforts to establish and enhance nuclear
security infrastructure through its various support programs, and encourage
States to make use of these IAEA resources.
Nuclear
Materials
4.
Recognizing that highly enriched uranium (HEU) and separated plutonium require
special precautions, we reemphasize the importance of appropriately securing,
accounting for and consolidating these materials. We also encourage States to
consider the safe, secure and timely removal and disposition of nuclear
materials from facilities no longer using them, as appropriate, and consistent
with national security considerations and development objectives.
5.
We recognize that the development, within the framework of the IAEA, of options
for national policies on HEU management will advance nuclear security
objectives. We encourage States to take measures to minimize the use of HEU,
including through the conversion of reactors from highly enriched to low
enriched uranium (LEU) fuel, where technically and economically feasible,
taking into account the need for assured supplies of medical isotopes, and
encourage States in a position to do so, by the end of 2013, to announce
voluntary specific actions intended to minimize the use of HEU. We also
encourage States to promote the use of LEU fuels and targets in commercial
applications such as isotope production, and in this regard, welcome relevant
international cooperation on high-density LEU fuel to support the conversion of
research and test reactors.
Radioactive
Sources
6.
Taking into account that radioactive sources are widely used and can be
vulnerable to malicious acts, we urge States to secure these materials, while
bearing in mind their uses in industrial, medical, agricultural and research
applications. To this end, we encourage States in a position to do so to
continue to work towards the process of ratifying or acceding to the ICSANT;
reflect into national practices relevant IAEA Nuclear Security Series
documents, the IAEA Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive
Sources and its supplementary document on the IAEA Guidance on the Import and
Export of Radioactive Sources; and establish national registers of
high-activity radioactive sources where required. We also commit to work
closely with the IAEA to encourage cooperation on advanced technologies and
systems, share best practices on the management of radioactive sources, and
provide technical assistance to States upon their request. In addition, we
encourage continued national efforts and international cooperation to recover
lost, missing or stolen sources and to maintain control over disused sources.
Nuclear Security and Safety
Nuclear Security and Safety
7.
Acknowledging that safety measures and security measures have in common the aim
of protecting human life and health and the environment, we affirm that nuclear
security and nuclear safety measures should be designed, implemented and
managed in nuclear facilities in a coherent and synergistic manner. We also
affirm the need to maintain effective emergency preparedness, response and
mitigation capabilities in a manner that addresses both nuclear security and
nuclear safety. In this regard, we welcome the efforts of the IAEA to organize
meetings to provide relevant recommendations on the interface between nuclear
security and nuclear safety so that neither security nor safety is compromised.
We also welcome the convening of the High Level Meeting on Nuclear Safety and
Security initiated by the UN Secretary-General, held in New York on 22
September 2011. Noting that the security of nuclear and other radioactive
materials also includes spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, we encourage
States to consider establishing appropriate plans for the management of these
materials.
Transportation
Security
8.
We will continue efforts to enhance the security of nuclear and other
radioactive materials while in domestic and international transport, and
encourage States to share best practices and cooperate in acquiring the
necessary technologies to this end. Recognizing the importance of a national
layered defense against the loss or theft of nuclear and other radioactive
materials, we encourage the establishment of effective national nuclear
material inventory management and domestic tracking mechanisms, where required,
that enable States to take appropriate measures to recover lost and stolen
materials.
Combating
Illicit Trafficking
9.
We underscore the need to develop national capabilities to prevent, detect,
respond to and prosecute illicit nuclear trafficking. In this regard, we
encourage action-oriented coordination among national capacities to combat
illicit trafficking, consistent with national laws and regulations. We will
work to enhance technical capabilities in the field of national inspection and
detection of nuclear and other radioactive materials at the borders. Noting
that several countries have passed export control laws to regulate nuclear
transfers, we encourage further utilization of legal, intelligence and
financial tools to effectively prosecute offenses, as appropriate and
consistent with national laws. In addition, we encourage States to participate
in the IAEA Illicit Trafficking Database program and to provide necessary
information relating to nuclear and other radioactive materials outside of
regulatory control. We will work to strengthen cooperation among States and
encourage them to share information, consistent with national regulations, on
individuals involved in trafficking offenses of nuclear and other radioactive
materials, including through INTERPOL’s Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism Prevention
Unit and the World Customs Organization.
Nuclear
Forensics
10.
We recognize that nuclear forensics can be an effective tool in determining the
origin of detected nuclear and other radioactive materials and in providing
evidence for the prosecution of acts of illicit trafficking and malicious uses.
In this regard, we encourage States to work with one another, as well as with
the IAEA, to develop and enhance nuclear forensics capabilities. In this
regard, they may combine the skills of both traditional and nuclear forensics
through the development of a common set of definitions and standards,
undertake research and share information and best practices, as appropriate. We
also underscore the importance of international cooperation both in technology
and human resource development to advance nuclear forensics.
Nuclear
Security Culture
11.
Recognizing that investment in human capacity building is fundamental to
promoting and sustaining a strong nuclear security culture, we encourage States
to share best practices and build national capabilities, including through
bilateral and multilateral cooperation. At the national level, we encourage all
stakeholders, including the government, regulatory bodies, industry, academia,
non-governmental organizations and the media, to fully commit to enhancing
security culture and to maintain robust communication and coordination of
activities. We also encourage States to promote human resource development
through education and training. In this regard, we welcome the establishment of
Centers of Excellence and other nuclear security training and support centers
since the Washington Summit, and encourage the establishment of new centers.
Furthermore, we welcome the effort by the IAEA to promote networking among such
centers to share experience and lessons learned and to optimize available
resources. We also note the holding of the Nuclear Industry Summit and the
Nuclear Security Symposium on the eve of the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit.
Information
Security
12.
We recognize the importance of preventing non-state actors from obtaining
information, technology or expertise required to acquire or use nuclear
materials for malicious purposes, or to disrupt information technology based
control systems at nuclear facilities. We therefore encourage States to:
continue to develop and strengthen national and facility-level measures for the
effective management of such information, including information on the
procedures and protocols to protect nuclear materials and facilities; to support
relevant capacity building projects; and to enhance cyber security measures
concerning nuclear facilities, consistent with the IAEA General Conference
Resolution on Nuclear Security(GC(55)/Res/10) and bearing in mind the
International Telecommunication Union Resolution 174. We also encourage States
to: promote a security culture that emphasizes the need to protect nuclear
security related information; engage with scientific, industrial and academic
communities in the pursuit of common solutions; and support the IAEA in
producing and disseminating improved guidance on protecting information.
International
Cooperation
13.
We encourage all States to enhance their physical protection of and accounting
system for nuclear materials, emergency preparedness and response capabilities
and relevant legal and regulatory framework. In this context, we encourage the
international community to increase international cooperation and to provide
assistance, upon request, to countries in need on a bilateral, regional, and multilateral
level, as appropriate. In particular, we welcome the intent by the IAEA to
continue to lead efforts to assist States, upon request. We also reaffirm the
need for various public diplomacy and outreach efforts to enhance public
awareness of actions taken and capacities built to address threats to nuclear
security, including the threat of nuclear terrorism.
We
will continue to make voluntary and substantive efforts toward strengthening
nuclear security and implementing political commitments made in this regard. We
welcome the information on the progress made in the field of nuclear security
since the Washington Summit provided by the participants at this Seoul Summit.
The next Nuclear Security Summit will be held in [the Netherlands] in 2014.
