The law is largely symbolic since Seoul is already a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). Few other members have similar legislation.

Critics say the law may be too much of a good thing. Kyongpook National University physics professor Jang Hee-dong said it could be useful if it draws a clear line between what nuclear researchers can and cannot do, and strictly forbids what is banned in return for greater government support in legitimate nuclear activities.

Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security Professor Kim Tae-hyo said the planned legislation would have little effect on Korea's nuclear activities but could help the country diplomatically with the U.S., which has been pursuing worldwide denuclearization. Korea could also take an international lead in promoting peace and denuclearization, he said.

Others, like Seoul National University nuclear engineering professor Gang Chang-sun, wonder whether the government is overreacting with an anti-nuclear declaration to North Korea's nuclear declaration last week.

Baek Seung-ju, head of the North Korean military research team of the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, said North Korea virtually trashed the 1991 Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula with its announcement, so there was no need for Seoul to shackle itself. He added it was enough for the government to closely comply with the denuclearization principle while closely watching the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

One government official said on condition of anonymity it was inappropriate for South Korea to outlaw development of nuclear weapons at a volatile time in North Korea's nuclear weapons program, and when Pyongyang could conduct a nuclear test. He said Seoul needed to leave itself room to maneuver in a worst-case scenario where even Japan and Taiwan arm themselves with nuclear weapons.

(Kwon Kyeong-bok, kkb@chosun.com )