Seoul: South Korea is continuing to "actively" engage in negotiations with the United States to resolve the issue of its placement on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List (SCL), the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The ministry issued the statement as the SCL came into force Tuesday. The DOE's inclusion of South Korea in the list's lowest category has emerged as a hot button issue in bilateral relations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry emphasized that they have been actively engaging in negotiations, including working-level consultations at the director-general levels with the U.S. Department of Energy, alongside relevant ministries. The statement recalled that both sides have agreed to work out the issue "promptly through due procedures." However, the ministry noted that, as this matter is proceeding in accordance with the U.S. internal procedures, more time will be needed.
The DOE confirmed last month that the preceding Biden administration added South Korea to the SCL in early January. This list includes countries such as North Korea, China, and Russia. The designation has raised concerns about its potential impact on science and technology cooperation between the allies. Listed countries face stricter scrutiny when accessing DOE research institutions or other facilities for technology cooperation or other purposes.
The ministry cited the DOE reaffirming that the designation "will not affect bilateral cooperation in ongoing or future research and development." A foreign ministry official mentioned that the government and relevant research institutions are monitoring the situation to determine whether any research projects or related exchanges have been affected. "So far, we have not identified any cases that have been impacted," the official said.
A diplomatic source noted that other U.S. allies had been included on the list in the past before later being removed. South Korea was designated on the list in 1981 and was taken off in July 1994, following seven months of negotiations. Multiple sources in Washington indicated that Seoul has not been informed of any DOE decision to reverse the listing before the designation took effect this week, signaling South Korea is now included in the SCL. The DOE did not respond to a request for comment.