Hello!! Everybody~~!! How are you??

For the last article, I introduced Earth Summit 2012 that is planned to be held in South Korea.  This time I would like to show you the background and outcomes of another meeting that was already done in Seoul which is called Nuclear Security Summit Seoul 2012.

To begin with, nuclear security is a series of defensive measures introduced to prevent internal or external threats directly or indirectly related to nuclear materials, radioactive substances, relevant facilities or other associated activities.  In the late 1960s, cross-border transfers of nuclear materials increased with the rising use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.  Nuclear security aimed to ensure the stability in the supply of nuclear fuel by preventing the illegal seizure of nuclear materials in transit.  Following the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the possibility of terrorists misusing nuclear materials and facilities became a real threat, and nuclear security was highlighted as a means to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism.

President Obama proposed to hold a Nuclear Security Summit in 2010 and officially announced his plans to host the Summit at the G-8 Summit that was held in July 2010.  The Summit aimed to seek joint response measures and ways to cooperate to strengthen nuclear security, based on a shared recognition at the highest level of its importance.  Leaders agreed on the urgency and seriousness of the nuclear threat and agreed to work towards the goal to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials.  Participating states reaffirmed the fundamental responsibility of nations to maintain effective security of the nuclear materials and facilities under their control.

The "2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit", which was held in Seoul in March 2012, was the largest summit in the security field that discusses international cooperative measures to protect nuclear materials and facilities from terrorist groups, with participation from more than 53 heads of state and international organizations. The main issues were to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism, protect nuclear materials, and prevent the wrong uses.  It also served as an opportunity for Korea to earn international recognition on its enhanced status following its hosting of the G20 Seoul Summit in 2010.  Moreover, it helped seek major changes in regional leadership and secure the stability of the Korean peninsula by bringing global leaders to discuss cooperative measures to strengthen nuclear security.