Amid ongoing disputes between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and the American nuclear power company Westinghouse regarding South Korea’s nuclear export plans to the Czech Republic, the governments of South Korea and the United States confirmed their commitment to cooperation. On November 1st, local time, Lee Ho-hyun, the Director-General for Energy Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Andrew Light, the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy, signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the principles of nuclear export and cooperation during a meeting in Washington, D.C.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated that by signing the MOU, the longstanding cooperative relationship between South Korea and the United States marked significant progress in civil nuclear collaboration. The agreement reaffirms both countries’ mutual commitment to promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy while maintaining the highest standards of non-proliferation, nuclear safety, safeguards, and security. Both sides also pledged to strengthen export control management over civil nuclear technology.
This agreement is seen as a stepping stone for expanding cooperation in various fields, such as tackling climate change, accelerating the global energy transition, and securing key supply chains. It is expected to create billions of dollars in economic opportunities and thousands of manufacturing jobs in both countries. The MOU is set to undergo final review processes at the national levels of both countries, with formal signing anticipated to lead to closer collaboration on nuclear exports in the global market.