한·미 원자력협정 개정 과정의 교훈과 시사점

This paper examines the revision process of the ROK-U.S. Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, which took place over four and a half years starting in 2010, dividing it into the preparation and negotiation phases. It analyzes the positions of both sides on key issues and the outcomes of the negotiations. Korea sought to secure advance long-term consent from the United States to enable efficient management of spent fuel, stable supply of nuclear fuel, and enhanced competitiveness in nuclear exports. In contrast, the U.S. prioritized non-proliferation principles and aimed to restrict the spread of sensitive technologies, offering only limited consent. While Korea achieved partial advance consent and the establishment of a bilateral High-Level Bilateral Commission (HLBC), it was unable to overcome U.S. resistance on major sensitive issues, leaving only mechanisms for future resolution and tasks to be addressed later. By reviewing the past negotiation process, the paper identifies ten key lessons for future negotiations at the current ten-year mark: (1) establishing relevant national policies and plans, (2) setting specific and clear goals for revision, (3) demonstrating unified and strong commitment to revision, (4) preparing effective negotiation leverage, (5) forming a robust negotiation team, (6) crafting impactful negotiation catchphrases, (7) encouraging active industry participation, (8) conducting in-depth research on U.S. policies, laws, systems, and practices, (9) emphasizing the importance of drafting agreement texts, and (10) preparing for U.S. congressional lobbying. Additionally, four strategic insights are drawn for shaping the negotiation environment: (1) strengthening national non-proliferation credibility measures, (2) maximizing technical and legal readiness for spent fuel recycling and domestic enrichment, (3) continuously building pro-Korea support within the U.S. regarding Korean nuclear programs, and (4) diversifying nuclear cooperation with the United States.