South Korea, the United States and Japan signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) to accelerate the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) during a trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting held on the sidelines of the NATO Summit. The three countries also reaffirmed close coordination on North Korea policy, including efforts to counter Pyongyang’s illicit activities.
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signed the agreement during their meeting at the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye.
The MOC establishes a trilateral framework to support and accelerate SMR deployment in third countries, particularly across the Indo-Pacific region.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry and the U.S. State Department said the agreement advances shared security interests while helping partner countries meet their energy security needs.
The two governments said the pact also creates opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation among the three countries’ civilian nuclear industries.
“A coordinated trilateral approach will enable companies from the United States, Japan and South Korea to offer more competitive solutions to meet growing energy demand across the region,” the governments said. “It will also help maintain the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and nonproliferation as next-generation reactor technologies become more widely adopted.”
As part of the initiative, the United States will provide more than $10 million in new funding through the State Department’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program. The funding will support technical assistance for Indo-Pacific countries adopting nuclear energy, SMR project development, and regional workforce training hubs.
Rubio said energy security has become one of the world’s most pressing issues, citing developments in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere as reminders of its importance.
He said the agreement would enable the three countries to jointly advance SMR projects, describing the technology as “the future of energy production” because it is safe, efficient and cost-effective.
Rubio added that the trilateral partnership must deliver tangible results and described the agreement as an important example of practical cooperation.
Motegi welcomed the signing, noting that the three countries have already worked together on strengthening critical mineral supply chain resilience and responding to North Korea’s cyber threats since October last year.
Cho said the agreement demonstrates one of many areas where the three countries can work together to address global challenges. He also expressed appreciation for Rubio’s efforts to promote peace in the Middle East and other regions, saying those efforts also benefit South Korea.
The three ministers also exchanged assessments of developments on the Korean Peninsula and agreed to maintain close coordination on North Korea policy, including efforts to counter the country’s illicit cyber activities.
They reaffirmed their commitment to the principle of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and discussed ways to promote peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy.
The ministers also agreed on the importance of continued trilateral security cooperation and coordination on global issues to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
In addition, they exchanged views on regional and global developments, including in Northeast Asia and the Middle East, and agreed to continue close cooperation to support regional peace and stability.
