Seoul:South Korea is set to expedite consultations with the United States to achieve "tangible" results on crucial security matters, including nuclear-powered submarines, uranium enrichment, and spent fuel reprocessing. This initiative is based on agreements from last year's summit.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun made these remarks during a meeting with reporters in Seoul, where he discussed the outcomes of President Lee Jae Myung's recent diplomatic engagements, including a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York alongside the U.N. General Assembly.
Cho emphasized the intent to enhance discussions with the U.S. on various areas such as conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, civilian uranium enrichment, spent fuel reprocessing for peaceful purposes, shipbuilding cooperation, and the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON). These topics were part of a joint fact sheet released in November last year following talks between Lee and Trump.
The joint document also highlighted South Korea's pledge to invest US$350 billion in the U.S., aimed at securing reduced tariffs on Korean goods. As part of this, details of $200 billion in planned investment projects, including a gas-fired power plant in Texas, were announced recently.
Cho described the investment strategy as a vital step towards realizing the vision agreed upon by Lee and Trump to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance into a future-oriented comprehensive strategic partnership. He noted that these investment projects would drive forward consultations on jointly identified security issues.
Further discussions have been ongoing between Seoul and Washington about revising their civil nuclear cooperation agreement, known as the 123 Agreement, to permit South Korea to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel. South Korea is also seeking U.S. support for its nuclear-powered submarine development plans.
Additionally, the two nations are engaged in talks concerning the OPCON transfer of South Korean troops from Washington and expanding bilateral shipbuilding cooperation to bolster their alliance.