Seoul: Acting President Lee Ju-ho announced that South Korea is committed to maintaining close communication with the Czech Republic to finalize a nuclear power plant deal that has been temporarily halted by a recent court injunction.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee emphasized the importance of the deal during an economic security strategy meeting, following a Czech court's decision to prevent the country's main electricity firm, CEZ, from signing the $18.6 billion contract with a South Korean consortium. The legal challenge was brought by France's EDF, which had been an unsuccessful bidder in the tender process.

Lee reassured that the South Korean government would work diligently with Czech authorities to expedite the finalization of the contract. He noted that the Czech government believes the tender evaluation was conducted transparently and legally.

Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, who was en route to Prague for a planned signing ceremony when the court's decision was announced, has been in contact with Lee to discuss the developments.

The acting president also highlighted the current challenges in international trade, following the United States' recent imposition of new tariffs on imported goods. Lee mentioned that South Korea and the U.S. would engage in tariff consultations during the upcoming visit of U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers' meeting next week.