A senior U.S. State Department official said Wednesday that Korea’s plan to develop a nuclear-propelled submarine shows how the two countries are reshaping their alliance to deal with "regional threats."
The United States asked Korea to adopt an American reactor design in its bid for Saudi Arabia’s nuclear power project, underscoring Washington’s effort to expand its role in global nuclear cooperation.
Whang Joo-ho, president of the state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), has offered to step down, industry sources said Wednesday.
Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan has raised the possibility of halting plans to build new nuclear power plants, saying such plans need to be reviewed in light of public opinion.
The presidential office has ordered a fact-finding probe into a recently finalized nuclear power deal with the Czech Republic, clouding the outlook for both the 26 trillion-won ($18.7 billion) contract and future exports of Korean reactors.
President Lee Jae-myung held his first phone call with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Wednesday to discuss the direction of development of Korea-Czech relations, just a week after a $18.6 billion nuclear power plant deal was finalized.
Korea's nuclear industry aims to expand globally via the potential construction of up to 700 reactors, but it faces pricing challenges and competition from countries like France, Russia and China.
The Czech Republic's energy authorities appealed a court injunction earlier this week that has temporarily blocked the signing of a multibillion-dollar nuclear power plant contract with Korea, industry sources in Seoul said Tuesday.
Nuclear power became the largest source of energy in Korea's power generation sector for the first time ever last year, data showed Sunday.
The Czech nuclear power plant project secured by a Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power-led consortium, valued at 26.2 trillion won, will benefit a wide range of Korean firms.
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap
