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South Korea Advances Nuclear Cooperation and Alliance Stability After New Administration

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Lee’s Diplomatic Push Stabilizes U.S.–Korea Alliance Lee Jae‑myung, elected in June, has placed the alliance at the core of his foreign policy, holding a White House summit in August and a follow‑up in Seoul in October [1]. The joint fact sheet released after the meetings outlines security and trade commitments, including a pledge of roughly US$350 billion in investment for tariff cuts to 15 % and a goal to transfer wartime OPCON to Seoul by 2030 [1]. Discussions also intensified on expanding USFK’s operational scope and on approving nuclear‑powered submarines for Seoul [1].

Interagency Task Force Mobilized for Nuclear Talks South Korea created a whole‑of‑government consultative group on 9 January, chaired by Rim Kap‑soo, to prepare for negotiations with Washington on civil uranium enrichment and spent‑fuel reprocessing [2][3]. Participants span the ministries of Science and ICT, Climate, Energy and Environment, Trade, Industry and Energy, plus the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, KAERI, KHNP and KINAC [2][3]. The task force will hold director‑general‑level meetings and phased working‑level consultations to align policy and technical positions [2].

Revision of 123 Agreement Targets Fuel Security Seoul aims to amend the existing 123 nuclear cooperation pact, which currently limits enrichment to below 20 % U‑235 and requires U.S. written consent for any activity [2][3]. The proposed revision would grant standing prior approval for low‑level enrichment and reprocessing, securing a reliable fuel supply for its commercial reactors [2][3]. Initial negotiation rounds are expected soon, though precise timelines and scopes remain under discussion [2][3].

U.S. Endorsement Extends to Civil Nuclear Projects The October summit fact sheet signaled Washington’s willingness to back Seoul’s peaceful enrichment and reprocessing ambitions, marking a shift toward broader civilian nuclear cooperation [1][3]. Both countries continue to promote Seoul’s civilian uranium enrichment and spent‑fuel reprocessing program despite procedural and political hurdles [1]. This U.S. support dovetails with the alliance’s broader security agenda, which also includes nuclear‑submarine development [1].

Sources

Timeline

Nov 30, 2025 – First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon‑joo lands at Dulles Airport to start talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, seeking concrete mechanisms to implement the joint fact sheet that pledges U.S. support for South Korea’s civil uranium enrichment and spent‑fuel reprocessing, while also reviewing the prospect of nuclear‑powered submarines. [20]

Dec 1, 2025 – Seoul and Washington agree to launch sectoral working groups on nuclear energy and nuclear‑powered submarines; Park Yoon‑joo stresses U.S. backing for civil uranium enrichment under the 123 Agreement, requests tariff cuts and a dedicated visa desk for Korean businesses, and the United States formally approves South Korea’s plan to build nuclear‑powered attack submarines. [16]

Dec 1, 2025 – South Korea’s foreign ministry publicly urges the United States to begin consultations on civil uranium enrichment and spent‑fuel reprocessing, framing the request as essential for a stable fuel supply and regional security cooperation. [17]

Dec 1, 2025 – Both governments announce the formation of joint working groups to advance follow‑up talks on nuclear‑powered submarines and civilian nuclear energy, setting a three‑month timetable for the first meetings. [18]

Dec 1, 2025 – Seoul issues a formal call for Washington to start civil uranium enrichment talks, highlighting the peaceful nature of the proposed activities and linking them to broader Indo‑Pacific security concerns. [19]

Dec 2, 2025 – Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina arrives in Washington ahead of the 10th Senior Economic Dialogue, pressing the United States to assign a counterpart and move quickly on the agreed‑upon process that would let Seoul enrich uranium and reprocess spent fuel for peaceful purposes. [11]

Dec 3, 2025 – U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jonathan Fritz declares the alliance “stronger than ever” and “in complete alignment” after President Trump’s approval of South Korea’s nuclear‑powered submarine program, underscoring joint deterrence against regional threats. [13]

Dec 3, 2025 – First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon‑joo meets U.S. think‑tank leaders in Washington, reaffirming South Korea’s commitment to the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty while seeking U.S. backing for its shipbuilding, submarine, and visa initiatives. [10]

Dec 7, 2025 – The presidential office creates cross‑agency task forces to support working‑level talks on nuclear‑powered submarines, uranium enrichment, and defense‑cost sharing, aiming for concrete outcomes in the first half of 2026. [12]

Dec 16, 2025 – National Security Adviser Wi Sung‑lac meets Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, discussing a possible separate bilateral agreement—modeled on Australia’s Section 91 exemption—to permit transfer of nuclear material for South Korea’s submarine program. [14]

Dec 17, 2025 – Wi Sung‑lac holds a meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, reviewing the joint fact sheet’s commitments on civil uranium enrichment, spent‑fuel reprocessing, and the need for a U.S. exception to enable nuclear‑powered submarines. [7]

Dec 18, 2025 – Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announces that President Lee Jae Myung will make a state visit to China in early 2026, coordinating the trip with a planned summit with President Trump to advance agreements on nuclear‑powered submarines, civilian nuclear fuel cycles, and shipbuilding cooperation. [8]

Dec 24, 2025 – South Korea and the United States agree to pursue a stand‑alone nuclear‑submarine pact; working‑level talks are slated for early 2026, Seoul commits to using low‑enriched uranium below 20 % for submarine fuel, and seeks a Section 91 exemption similar to Australia’s AUKUS arrangement. [4][5][9][15]

Jan 9, 2026 – An interagency consultative group chaired by Rim Kap‑soo convenes its inaugural meeting, bringing together the ministries of Science & ICT, Climate Energy & Environment, Trade Industry & Energy, and nuclear agencies to prepare for the first round of U.S. negotiations aimed at revising the 123 Agreement for standing approval of civil uranium enrichment and spent‑fuel reprocessing. [2][3]

Jan 13, 2026 – After a year of uncertainty, the South Korea‑U.S. alliance steadies as President Lee Jae Myung’s administration delivers two White House summits (August in Washington, October in Seoul) and a joint fact sheet outlining a $350 billion investment package, tariff reductions, accelerated OPCON transfer, nuclear‑powered submarine approval, and civilian nuclear fuel‑cycle cooperation; the article notes President Trump’s second term begins Jan 20, 2026, reshaping alliance dynamics. [1]

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