Summit notes progress on nuke security

SEOUL, March 27 (UPI) -- Progress has been made on preventing nuclear terrorism, a communique issued Tuesday from the Nuclear Security Summit said.

During the two-day summit in Seoul, the 53 world leaders adopted the "Seoul Communique," which also urged nations to minimize the use of weapons-grade uranium by the end of 2013, Yonhap reported.

"We recognize that the Nuclear Security Summit is a valuable process at the highest political level, supporting our joint call to secure all vulnerable nuclear material," the document said. "In this regard, we welcome the substantive progress being made on the political commitments of participating states."

Nations participating in the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul also agreed to improve transport security of nuclear and radioactive material in another statement issued Tuesday.

The Joint Statement on Transport Security encouraged participating countries to share best practices and cooperate in acquiring the proper technologies.

"Recognizing the importance of a national layered defense against the loss or theft of nuclear and other radioactive materials, we encourage the establishment of effective national nuclear material inventory management and domestic tracking mechanisms, where required, that enable states to take appropriate measures to recover lost and stolen materials," the statement said.

In addition, France, South Korea, Britain, the United States and Japan agreed to take on added a further commitment to transport security, which includes conducting meetings to address transport security issues, the first in Japan by 2013.

The five participating countries also may consider organizing training exercises, including table-top exercises, for "strengthened emergency preparedness," the statement said. A proposal based upon exercises will be submitted during the third Nuclear Security Summit.

The Seoul Communique also encouraged countries "to consider the safe, secure and timely removal and disposition of nuclear materials from facilities no longer using them, as appropriate, and consistent with national security considerations and development objectives."

The document also called for a " nexus between nuclear security and nuclear safety," citing the nuclear plant disaster in Japan last year, Yonhap said.

"We consider that sustained efforts are required to address the issue of nuclear safety and security in a coherent manner that will help ensure the safe and secure peaceful uses of nuclear energy," the document said.

A third nuclear security summit will be in the Netherlands in 2014.