Seoul: The U.S. Energy Department (DOE) is taking "necessary steps" concerning the inclusion of South Korea in its "sensitive country" list, according to a senior official from Seoul. This development follows a meeting between South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, where South Korea's request to be removed from the list was discussed.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the senior official mentioned that concerns have persisted about the impact of South Korea's inclusion on the list, particularly regarding the science and technology cooperation between the two countries. The official stated, "We heard that (the DOE) is taking necessary steps," indicating ongoing efforts to address the issue.

The DOE confirmed that the preceding Biden administration had added South Korea to the lowest category of the list last January. This list also includes countries such as North Korea, China, and Russia. Countries on the list are subject to stricter scrutiny when accessing DOE research institutions or other facilities for technology cooperation or other purposes.