Acting President Choi Sang-mok attends a meeting of economy-related ministers at the government complex in Seoul on March 5, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Monday instructed the government to engage with the United States to prevent any adverse impact on energy cooperation following Washington’s designation of South Korea as a ”sensitive” country.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the previous Joe Biden administration made the designation in January after President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly imposed martial law in December amid discussions about the possibility of Seoul developing nuclear weapons.
During a meeting with ministers on economic affairs, Choi directed relevant government agencies to “actively explain” the situation to Washington to ensure that South Korea-U.S. cooperation in science, technology and energy remains unaffected.
In particular, Choi ordered the industry minister to meet with his U.S. counterpart this week for active consultations.
The DOE confirmed that the Biden administration had added South Korea to the lowest category of its sensitive country list, raising concerns about Seoul’s diplomatic standing at a time of political uncertainty following Yoon’s impeachment.
Reasons for South Korea’s inclusion in the U.S. list have yet to be identified.
(Yonhap)
