South Korea and the US have agreed to work together to quickly resolve issues surrounding Washington’s designation of Seoul on its “sensitive countries list," Korea’s Industry Ministry said Friday.
Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun met with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Thursday in Washington, for their first official talks.
During their meeting, Ahn conveyed concerns regarding Seoul’s inclusion on the Department of Energy’s list of “sensitive countries and other designated nations.” In response, the two countries agreed to cooperate closely and follow procedural steps to swiftly resolve the matter, the ministry said, without elaborating further.
Ahn’s visit comes after Seoul's discovery that the Energy Department had placed South Korea on the lowest tier of its sensitive countries list in January. The move has triggered worries in Seoul that it could hamper future collaborations in research and technology between the two allies.
It was Ahn’s second trip to Washington in less than a month, following a visit from Feb. 26 to 28.
Despite the designation, Washington has assured Seoul that the measure, which is set to take effect on April 15, will have little impact on bilateral technology cooperation, according to South Korea's Foreign Ministry. The ministry also clarified that the designation stemmed from a security-related issue involving a research institute under the Department of Energy, not due to foreign policy matter.
Beyond the “sensitive country” issue, Ahn and Wright agreed to deepen cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries, including in areas such as liquefied natural gas, power grids, hydrogen and small modular reactors. The two nations also agreed to hold regular energy-related policy consultations and joint forums, according to the ministry.
“This visit to the US has confirmed both countries' commitment to resolve the ‘sensitive country’ issue and provided an opportunity to strengthen the momentum of Korea-US energy cooperation,” Ahn said in a statement. “We also hope to find opportunities for expanding cooperation projects and investments between the two countries through close consultation on the Trump administration’s energy policy and to lead the global energy market together.”
While in Washington, Ahn is also expected to hold talks with key US officials, including US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Friday, to address concerns over impending tariffs. Washington is preparing to impose reciprocal tariffs on all trading partners on April 2, raising concerns that Korea may not be exempted, despite its free trade agreement with the US.
Ahn told reporters upon arrival at Dulles International Airport on Thursday that there are virtually no tariffs under the Korea-US FTA. "But there are some nontariff issues that have been raised and we are working to resolve them swiftly domestically," he said.
Ahn added that he would discuss these concerns with US counterparts during his visit and seek solutions to ease Washington’s worries.
sahn@heraldcorp.com
