A U.S. expert on Korean affairs says it will take some creative thinking to avoid a train wreck in U.S.-South Korea negotiations on revising an atomic accord that limits South Korea’s nuclear activities. The deal expires in 2014.

Scott Snyder, the director of the Asia Foundation’s Center for U.S.-Korea Policy, says that South Korea's opportunities to provide technology, plants, and services in the nuclear energy sector depend on the successful conclusion of a new bilateral cooperation agreement with the United States. He made the remarks in a contribution to the Council on Foreign Relations Web site.

He added that U.S. denial of an agreement that fits with South Korea’s emerging role would clearly mean a severe economic and political fall-out for the South Korea-U.S. relationship.

Snyder said that for the sake of maintaining its own international competitiveness in this newly emerging sector, “nuclear responsibility,” not “nuclear sovereignty,” must be the centerpiece of South Korea’s focus going forward.

The expert also noted that South Korea is the only nuclear energy supplier among six countries that cannot independently provide enrichment or reprocessing services to address issues related to nuclear waste.

He stressed that “nuclear sovereignty” arguments should not overshadow the fact that South Korea’s excellent safety record to date and attention to safeguards are primary factors that bolster its competitiveness in providing nuclear plants.