Seoul: A South Korean delegation plans to visit the United States for talks on securing rights for uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced during a National Assembly session. This visit aims to advance the security agreement established after summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump last year.

According to Yonhap News Agency, under the agreement, the United States agreed to support South Korea's efforts to gain uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing capabilities. This visit comes amid challenges in advancing the agreement, exacerbated by recent Middle East tensions and delays in legislative processes in Seoul.

Cho stated that the U.S. delegation's visit to Seoul had been postponed due to scheduling conflicts and the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. Seoul has formed task forces for upcoming negotiations and had previously planned for a U.S. delegation visit in February or early March to initiate discussions.

Progress has been hindered by Seoul's legislative delays in advancing a trade deal related to the security agreement with the United States. Additionally, the recent conflict in the Middle East, following U.S. strikes on Iran, has further complicated the situation.

When asked about potential U.S. requests for support in military actions against Iran, Cho clarified that no such request has been made. He also refrained from commenting on speculation about the potential transfer of U.S. Forces Korea troops or military assets to the Middle East, assuring that South Korea-U.S. defense arrangements remain stable.