Korea-US Sign MOU on Nuclear Power Export and Cooperation Principles: "Strengthening Nuclear Export Controls"

US Department of Energy "Progress in Civil Nuclear Cooperation"

The U.S. Department of Energy announced that South Korea and the United States provisionally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on principles for nuclear export and cooperation on the 1st (local time).

On the 4th, the U.S. Department of Energy confirmed, "The two countries have reached an important achievement in advancing civilian nuclear energy cooperation."

The Department of Energy stated, "The United States and South Korea reaffirmed their mutual commitment to promoting the expansion of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes while maintaining the highest standards in non-proliferation, safety, safeguards, and security," adding, "To this end, both sides have strengthened export control management over civilian nuclear technology."

It further emphasized, "This additional commitment will lay the foundation for expanding cooperation between the two countries in responding to climate change, accelerating the global energy transition, and securing critical supply chains," and "It will provide new economic opportunities worth billions of dollars (trillions of won) and create and sustain tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs in both countries' industries."

The provisional signing of this MOU is significant in that the two governments confirmed their cooperative stance amid an ongoing dispute between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and the U.S. nuclear company Westinghouse over South Korea's export of nuclear power plants to the Czech Republic.