K5 Plan

The K5 Plan, sometimes referred to as the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) Alternative Energy Plan, was a proposed strategy developed in the late 1990s as a potential alternative to the 1994 Agreed Framework concerning North Korea's nuclear program. The Agreed Framework committed North Korea to freezing and ultimately dismantling its graphite-moderated nuclear reactors in exchange for the construction of two light-water reactors (LWRs) and the provision of heavy fuel oil for energy production in the interim.

The K5 Plan emerged from discussions and analyses of the Agreed Framework's challenges and potential shortcomings. It focused on providing North Korea with alternative energy sources beyond heavy fuel oil, while simultaneously verifying the dismantlement of the Yongbyon nuclear facility. The plan involved detailed negotiations on the scope and feasibility of various energy options. Specifics varied but generally centered on providing energy aid through renewable sources and other non-nuclear avenues.

Ultimately, the K5 Plan did not replace the Agreed Framework. The Agreed Framework remained the primary mechanism for dealing with North Korea's nuclear program until its collapse in the early 2000s. However, the discussions surrounding the K5 Plan highlighted the complexities and ongoing debates surrounding effective strategies for addressing North Korea's energy needs and nuclear ambitions. It also demonstrated the ongoing efforts to find verifiable and sustainable solutions to denuclearization.