South Korea is a Tier 2 state because it has a first-rate space agency, satellite launch capabilities, and an active space reactor development program. South Korea can only fuel a SNR with LEU because it lacks both HEU and enrichment capabilities.

 

While South Korea created its space program later then other states—Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) was established in 1989—it has made great leaps in the space technology field. [1] In 2008, it sent an astronaut to the International Space Station on board a Soyuz rocket, and in 2013, it launched its first successful satellite, making it one of only 12 countries or intergovernmental agencies to do so. [2]

 

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) manages the space reactor development program. The program is in its infancy and has not yet produced a demonstratable prototype. KAERI aims to first deliver a heat pipe reactor concept for space application and then conduct an alkali heat pipe experiment. If developed, the heat pipe reactor would produce 5 kWth of thermal power and 1 kWe of electric power. The reactor would be used for surface power on the moon. Researchers are considering two design options. The reactor will either be a fast reactor using LEU metal fuel or an epithermal reactor using LEU and zirconium hydride as the moderator. [3]

 

KAERI has not yet started an international collaboration program with any other state or national space program, but Chan Soo Kim, project manager of the Korea space reactor development program, did state that in 2021 KAERI would try to collaborate with the US space reactor program. [4] Collaboration between South Korea and US seems probable given previous cooperative arrangements. A space cooperation agreement signed between the U.S. and South Korea in 2016 marked the first space-cooperation pact between the United States and an Asian nation. [5] According to NASA, it was meant to “pave the way for the allies to discuss working together on Earth science, possible use of the International Space Station and the future exploration of Mars.” [6]

 

KAERI's space reactor program was preceded by two research papers. Hyun Chul Lee, who is now a professor at Pusan National University, published a paper in 2015 titled, “A neutronic feasibility study on a small LEU fueled reactor for space applications.” [7] The LEU-fuel design was developed for 19.5% enriched uranium. The purpose of the study was to investigate the minimum critical reactor mass, using a variety of fuel types, moderator material, and reflector materials. [8] When we asked Professor Lee why he decided to explore designs that involved a LEU-fueled space reactor, he stated, “it is clear that Korea has no choice for HEU because of non-proliferation [restrictions].” [9]

 

In Lee’s second paper published that same year, he explored designs using both LEU and HEU fuel. [10] This paper proposed an accident-tolerant control drum system for a space reactor. According to this paper, the control drum system “would enhance the safety of space reactors in various launch accidents and the safety enhancement was demonstrated for a LEU-fueled and HEU-fueled space reactor.” [11] Like the first paper, the LEU-fuel design was developed for 19.5% enriched uranium. According to Lee, “the research on HEU was just a feasibility study. Korea is not a nuclear power and HEU in Korea is strongly prohibited by the NPT.” [12]

 

While South Korea has been party to the NPT since 1975, concerns regarding its engagement in experiments related to uranium enrichment, conversion, and plutonium separation have arisen. In 2004, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that South Korea had used a covert isotope-separation program, also known as laser enrichment, to create a few hundred milligrams of near-weapons-quality HEU. [13] However, as of 2019, there is no indication that South Korea is interested in enriching on a large scale. [14] South Korea has completely removed all U.S.-origin HEU from its country and does not overtly operate any enrichment facilities. [15] Currently, South Korea depends on imported natural uranium and foreign enrichment services for its nuclear fuel. [16]  

 

South Korea has the knowledge and skill to develop a nuclear space reactor. Because South Korea lacks both HEU and enrichment capabilities, it would likely pursue a SNR fueled with LEU.

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[1] Stephanie Wan, “U.S.-South Korean Space Cooperation,” Secure World Foundation, June 2010. https://swfound.org/media/205872/us-korean_space_cooperation_final_sept_2010.pdf.

[2] “Korea’s Growing Space Program Working with JAXA,” Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, accessed November 13, 2019, https://global.jaxa.jp/article/interview/2012/vol70/index_e.html; https://www.space.com/19553-south-korea-launches-naro-rocket-satellite.html

[3] Chan Soo Kim, "KAERI space reactor program," email correspondence, June 21, 2020. 

[4] Ibid.

[5] Kim Gamel, “South Korea becomes 1st Asian nation to sign space pact with US,” Stars and Stripes, April 27, 2017, https://www.stripes.com/news/south-korea-becomes-1st-asian-nation-to-sign-space-pact-with-us-1.406498.

[6] Ibid.

[7] “A neutronic feasibility study on a small LEU fueled reactor for space applications,” ScienceDirect, accessed November 10, 2019, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306454914005544#!.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Hyun Chul Lee, “Research correspondence,” email correspondence, June 6, 2020.

[10]  “An accident-tolerant control drum system for a small space reactor,” ScienceDirect, accessed November 10, 2019, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306454915000511.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Lee, “Research correspondence,” 2020.

[13] Charles Seife, “South Korea admits to laser enrichment program,” Gale, accessed November 18, 2019,  https://go.gale.com/ps/anonymous?id=GALE%7CA122553225&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=00368075&p=AONE&sw=w.

[14] “South Korea- Nuclear,” Nuclear Threat Initiative, updated December 2015, https://www.nti.org/learn/countries/south-korea/nuclear/.

[15]  “South Korea free of US HEU,” World Nuclear News, September 21, 2007, http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/South-Korea-free-of-US-HEU; https://www.nti.org/learn/countries/south-korea/nuclear/.

[16] Jungmin. Kang, H.A. Feiveson, “South Korea’s Shifting and Controversial Interest in Spent Fuel Reprocessing,” The Nonproliferation Review 8, no. 1 (2001): 70-78.

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