The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, declared on Wednesday that South Korea has shown a "full" and "unambiguous" commitment to nuclear nonproliferation, even as Seoul pursues a nuclear-powered submarine program under a joint agreement with the United States. Speaking in Seoul during a two-day visit, Grossi stressed that any such program must proceed under an IAEA-compliant safeguards arrangement, calling an "ironclad guarantee" essential to prevent the initiative from being seen as a step toward weapons development. The visit marks the start of formal consultations between the IAEA and South Korea on the matter, with Grossi cautioning that reaching a suitable framework will be a lengthy process.