South Korea to Establish Export-Control Task Force

South Korea to Establish Export-Control Task Force

Source: NTI, Global Security Newswire

07/07/2006

South Korea plans to establish next week a weapons technology control team to keep commercial products that may threaten global stability from potential terrorists, Asia Pulse reported yesterday (see GSN, June 21).

The effort aims to tighten oversight over commercial and military technology used to make weapons of mass destruction including missiles and chemical weapons, the Ministry of Science and Technology said.

The team starts work next week, on the heels of requests to enhance enforcement of the Wassenaar Arrangement, an international export control system designed to restrict sales of dual-use technologies.

“In the past, the Commerce and Industry Ministry was responsible for keeping tabs on this, but there have been calls for a more concerted effort,” a Science Ministry official said. “While the United States is particularly anxious about the issue, South Korea, as a responsible member of their international community, needs to be more careful.”

The government said many companies were unaware of the rules and sold sensitive materials. Seoul has since developed a database allowing for companies to cross-check products prior to shipping. The country recently penalized companies for not following protocol. Companies in violation of the treaty could be barred from trading and have licenses suspended (Asia Pulse, July 4).