The Role Of The International Atomic Energy Agency In The International Nuclear Non-proliferation And Limitations

Nuclear weapons are an unprecedented challenge to human security. Over half a century, the international community has made unremitting efforts in order to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons around the world. Most countries in the world try to build effective international regime that reduce the cost of mutual vigilance, which is the most important thing in the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. Specifically, nuclear non-proliferation regime consists of NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons), IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), export control mechanisms, and regional nuclear-free agreements. IAEA is the supervisor and protector to the nuclear non-proliferation regime.Specifically, IAEA played an active role in international nuclear non-proliferation regime, including: providing platform for international cooperation in the nuclear field; build and standardize the world nuclear order; supervision and coordination of nuclear affairs; is also an organization can mediate nuclear conflicts. However, IAEA does not play its due role on North Korean nuclear issue, which is not the platform of the communication between North Korea and the United States and have failed to play a dominant role.IAEA's performance on North Korean nuclear issue reflects its limitation, and there are many reasons. The main internal reason comes from inadequately authorization, its limited authority for inspection. Additionally, the effective sanctions to the country which breaches the contract are not enough. Reasons of the external conditions mainly come from the inherent inequality of the international nuclear non-proliferation mechanism. Will and policy of the nuclear power also influences.Because of all the shortcomings, we can recognize the urgency and necessity of the nuclear non-proliferation. It is imperative to reform IAEA, not only improve the specific policies, enhancing and build-up the IAEA's capabilities to verify whether states are engaging in illicit nuclear activity, but also integrate most influential international organizations, call for more authorities and interests. On the one hand, sovereign states should transferring the necessary authority to support development of IAEA, and on the other hand, IAEA should improve the treaties and agreements to help build confidence mechanisms among countries and stimulate the reduction of nuclear weapons, as well as the intergovernmental cooperation on nuclear energies, to promote the international society towards zero nuclear weapons goals.