South Korea’s Lead Nuclear Negotiator Meets U.S. Officials, Paving Way for Early Talks
Updated (3 articles)
Rim Kap‑soo Leads Seoul’s Interagency Team in Washington Visit Rim Kap‑soo, head of South Korea’s interagency nuclear cooperation task force, traveled to Washington on Jan 19 for preliminary discussions on civilian uranium enrichment and spent‑fuel reprocessing. He met State Department arms‑control assistant secretary Christopher Yeaw and senior officials from the Department of Energy. The visit marks the first known contact since the task force was created earlier in the month and aims to lay groundwork for formal negotiations in the coming weeks. [1]
U.S. Signals Openness to Early Negotiations on Enrichment During the talks, Rim urged the United States to start formal negotiations as soon as possible, and U.S. officials responded that “the sooner the better.” Both sides expressed mutual interest in moving quickly, and a first round of talks is expected to bring a U.S. delegation to Seoul within weeks. Washington has not yet appointed a chief negotiator, but the signal of openness aligns with broader post‑summit commitments. [1]
123 Agreement Restricts Enrichment Levels and Reprocessing Under the existing 123 nuclear cooperation agreement, South Korea may enrich uranium only to below 20 % U‑235 with written U.S. consent, and any spent‑fuel reprocessing also requires U.S. approval. Seoul is seeking a standing prior‑approval mechanism that would allow low‑level enrichment and reprocessing for peaceful purposes, citing the need for a stable fuel supply for its reactors. The request would modify the current case‑by‑case consent process outlined in the 123 framework. [1]
Post‑Summit Commitments Prompt Possible NSC Visit to Seoul Washington’s willingness follows the October summit between the two leaders, which included a joint commitment to deepen nuclear cooperation. Officials are discussing a visit by a senior White House National Security Council official to Seoul as part of implementing that pledge. The prospective NSC trip underscores the political weight attached to the upcoming negotiations. [1]
Timeline
Dec 23 2025 – South Korea launches an inter‑agency task force to investigate the Coupang data breach that exposed personal information of 33.7 million users; the task force, comprising ministries, police, and the intelligence agency, holds its inaugural meeting to set the inquiry’s scope and timeline, highlighting the government’s heightened focus on cybersecurity after the nation’s largest consumer‑data incident. [2]
Dec 23 2025 – Rim Kap‑soo, South Korea’s ambassador to Romania and former IAEA specialist, is appointed chief negotiator for U.S.–South Korea talks on civilian uranium enrichment and spent‑fuel reprocessing, signaling Seoul’s intent to move from policy statements to concrete diplomatic engagement. [3][2]
Dec 23 2025 – A joint fact sheet released after the October 2025 summit between President Yoon Suk‑yeol and President Joe Biden commits the United States to support Seoul’s peaceful enrichment and reprocessing programs, providing the high‑level political backing that underpins the newly formed task force. [3]
Jan 19 2026 – Rim Kap‑soo flies to Washington and meets State Department Assistant Secretary for Arms Control Christopher Yeaw and senior Department of Energy officials; he urges an “early start” to negotiations, and the United States replies that “the sooner the better,” indicating reciprocal urgency to advance the civilian nuclear agenda. [1]
Jan 19 2026 – Both sides agree that the first formal round of talks will take place in Seoul within weeks, with a U.S. delegation expected to travel, turning the October summit commitment into actionable dialogue and setting a concrete timetable for the negotiation process. [1]
Jan 19 2026 – The talks are framed under the existing 123 Agreement, which limits South Korea to enrichment below 20 percent and requires U.S. consent for reprocessing; Seoul seeks standing prior approval to pursue low‑level enrichment and reprocessing, aiming to secure a stable fuel supply for its nuclear power fleet. [1]
Jan 19 2026 – Washington signals a possible visit by a senior National Security Council official to Seoul to implement summit commitments, underscoring the high‑level U.S. engagement and the strategic importance of the civilian nuclear cooperation track. [1]