Washington: South Korea and the United States have reached an agreement to swiftly establish working groups to advance follow-up negotiations on recent summit agreements. These include South Korea's initiatives to construct nuclear-powered submarines and pursue civil uranium enrichment rights, as confirmed by the foreign ministry.
According to Yonhap News Agency, First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo emphasized the necessity of this collaboration with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau during their discussions in Washington. This meeting marked the first high-level follow-up dialogue since the publication of the joint fact sheet on November 14.
The ministry announced that both officials concurred on the importance of promptly initiating sectoral working groups. This is to ensure the efficient implementation of follow-up measures in crucial areas such as nuclear energy, shipbuilding, and nuclear-powered submarines. Vice Minister Park also urged for expedited talks between Seoul and Washington regarding civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing capabilities.
Deputy Secretary Landau highlighted the importance of maintaining close communication between the two countries on these matters, as stated in the ministry's readout.
The joint fact sheet outlines commitments on trade, investment, security, and other issues made during the two recent summits between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in August and October. The document indicates U.S. support for South Korea's process towards civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing for peaceful use, in compliance with their existing bilateral nuclear energy pact and U.S. legal requirements.
The United States has approved South Korea's endeavor to build nuclear-powered attack submarines and committed to advancing the necessary requirements for these efforts, including sourcing fuel avenues.
Under the bilateral 123 Agreement, South Korea may only enrich uranium for civil purposes or reprocess spent fuel with U.S. consent, following bilateral consultations under existing treaties and regulations. This agreement is perceived as a limitation on Seoul's ability to engage in these activities independently.
The focus remains on how the allies will implement the agreements outlined in the fact sheet, particularly concerning uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing capabilities.
Both parties have also agreed to collaborate on ensuring that follow-up talks related to nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding cooperation proceed earnestly, as per the ministry.
Vice Minister Park communicated Seoul's efforts to fulfill its fact sheet commitments to his U.S. counterpart and requested corresponding measures, such as reducing U.S. tariffs on South Korean goods.
Park highlighted progress in the U.S. visa system for South Korean investors with the establishment of a dedicated visa desk for Korean businesses. He requested continued attention from Landau to ensure smooth entry for South Korean investors into the U.S.
Following the talks, Park informed reporters that each side would appoint officials responsible for follow-up fact sheet negotiations between the respective government agencies. He noted that the U.S. would allocate representatives, and South Korea would create a task force to coordinate with them.
During his stay in Washington, Park also plans to meet with State Department officials handling Korea affairs and the White House National Security Council to discuss post-summit steps and North Korea-related issues, as reported by the ministry.
In a separate statement, the U.S. State Department confirmed that discussions included implementing the joint fact sheet commitments to modernize the alliance and enhance shipbuilding cooperation.
Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott mentioned that both sides discussed the implementation of the U.S.-ROK Joint Fact Sheet, emphasizing the modernization of the U.S.-ROK Alliance as a cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the Indo-Pacific region for over 70 years.
Deputy Secretary Landau lauded South Korea's significant investment commitment in American manufacturing across strategic sectors, such as shipbuilding, and reiterated that Korean investment plays a vital role in the U.S.'s reindustrialization efforts.