A Memorandum of Understanding on Principles Concerning Nuclear Exports and Cooperation finalizes a provisional understanding reached in November of last year. It was signed by South Korea’s (S.K.) Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, who said on X, “Today, the United States and Republic of Korea reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing peaceful nuclear energy. Together, we’re enhancing energy security, tackling the climate crisis, and ensuring a safer world.”
     The agreement covering exports of nuclear technology was signed by the U.S. and S.K. on the same day that the leaders of S.K. and the Czech Republic reaffirmed their commitment to nuclear projects including the expansion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant.
     The U.S. and S.K. have collaborated on civil nuclear power projects for more than seventy years according to a joint statement issued by the respective ministries. “The cornerstone of this cooperation reflects the two countries’ mutual dedication to maximizing the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the highest international standards of nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and non-proliferation.”
     The joint statement continued. “This MoU continues to build upon this long-standing partnership and provides a framework for the parties to cooperate in expanding civil nuclear power in third countries while strengthening their respective administration of export controls on civil nuclear technology. It will also provide a pathway to help both countries keep up with the emergence of new technologies in this sector.”
     The agreement is considered to be significant for S.K. nuclear exports to other countries. In August of 2024, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) was selected by the Czech government as its preferred bidder to construct up to four new nuclear power units in S.K.  S.K.’s APR1000 nuclear reactor is based on original technology obtained from Westinghouse, a U.S. company. This requires that exports of Korean reactors go through U.S. export consent or notification procedures.
     There has been a continuing dispute between Westinghouse and KHNP over the issue of intellectual property rights for the APR1000. This disagreement is the subject of international arbitration, a process which Westinghouse notes is not expected to be resolved before the second half of 2025.
     The new MoU could smooth the way for U.S. governmental consent for the Czech nuclear power plant deal. Negotiations with Westinghouse should become much more straightforward. A Korean Trade Ministry official told the Korea JoongAng Daily that “This has become an opportunity to strengthen export control cooperation by establishing an information sharing system for transferring civilian nuclear power technology to third countries. As a ‘global comprehensive strategic alliance’, we expect it to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the global market in the future.”
     Citing S.K’s Ministry of  Economy and Finance, Korea.net reported that the country’s acting president, Choi Sang Mok, told Czech Prime Minister Petr Filala on the 8th of January of this year that the country intends to “smoothly proceed with major cooperation projects between our two sides like the construction of a nuclear power plant in Dukovany and diplomatic affairs like high-level exchanges”.

South Korea