BREAKING NEWS

S. Korea: IEA wants nuclear sector to be more transparent

SEOUL - The International Energy Agency (IEA) wants South Korea to bring more transparency to its nuclear power sector and strengthen the independence of regulators to increase trust in the safety of its plants, the economy ministry said on Friday.
The agency, which advises industrialized nations and represents 28 oil importing countries, was due later on Friday to unveil a report on South Korea's energy policies for the first time since 2006.
South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy, depends heavily on oil and gas imports but has 23 nuclear reactors that supply a third of its power. The country plans to add 11 more by 2024.
Its nuclear sector has been involved in a series of minor incidents and a scandal over forged certificates for parts used in what the government insists are non-essential operations - events that have caused two reactors to be shut.
Concern over nuclear safety in South Korea and worldwide has also been raised by last year's Fukushima disaster in Japan.