Seoul: Acting President Choi Sang-mok has 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.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the previous Joe Biden administration made the designation in January. This decision followed President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of 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. He specifically 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. This move has raised concerns about Seoul's diplomatic standing, especially during a time of political uncertainty following Yoon's impeachment. The reasons for South Korea's inclusion in the U.S. list have yet to be identified.