On Wednesday, Wi Seong-lac, the Director of South Korea’s National Security Office, met with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in Washington, D.C. for over an hour, significantly exceeding their scheduled time.
This extended meeting has sparked interest in whether it will accelerate cooperation in the nuclear sector, particularly regarding South Korea’s plans to construct and possess nuclear-powered attack submarines, as outlined in the joint fact sheet from the recent U.S.-South Korea summit.
Sources indicate that Director Wi and Secretary Granholm held their meeting at an undisclosed location in Washington, D.C., continuing their discussions well beyond the initially planned duration.
The meeting, conducted without interpreters, likely allowed for a substantial exchange of ideas. Given Secretary Granholm’s oversight of civilian nuclear power, it’s probable that the talks centered on comprehensive nuclear cooperation, including South Korea’s uranium enrichment capabilities and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing issues.
Upon his arrival in the U.S., Director Wi had signaled his intention to advance discussions on implementing the joint fact sheet released after the U.S.-South Korea summit.
Since the fact sheet’s publication, both nations have been addressing key issues related to South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program, including potential amendments to the existing U.S.-South Korea nuclear agreement.
In a briefing with international journalists, Jacob Helberg, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, confirmed multiple contacts with South Korean counterparts, noting that energy issues featured prominently in their bilateral talks.
Earlier this month, South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo met with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland in Washington, D.C. They agreed to establish a working-level consultative body to expedite the implementation of summit agreements, covering nuclear power, shipbuilding, and nuclear-powered submarines.
Diplomatic circles are particularly attentive to the possibility that this meeting addressed legal and institutional frameworks directly related to South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine construction. Upon arrival, Director Wi referenced the Australian precedent, citing the exception clause under Section 91 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act.
This provision empowers the U.S. President to authorize the transfer of military-use nuclear materials. Australia leveraged this clause to forge a separate bilateral agreement, effectively bypassing restrictions in the existing U.S.-Australia nuclear accord.
Given these remarks, it’s likely that discussions with Secretary Granholm also explored alternative legal avenues to facilitate the transfer of military-use nuclear materials, independent of amendments to the U.S.-South Korea nuclear agreement.
Director Wi is scheduled to visit New York on Thursday before returning to South Korea. While his official itinerary in New York remains undisclosed, speculation suggests he may engage in diplomatic consultations at the United Nations (UN) headquarters, potentially addressing the resumption of dialogue between North Korea and the U.S., as well as inter-Korean talks. Wi previously stated his intention to first consult with the U.S. and then discuss matters with the UN.
Additionally, it has been reported that Director Wi met with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss a range of security issues between South Korea and the U.S., with a focus on North Korea policy.