A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Friday that the issue of investing in Alaskan liquefied natural gas (LNG) is unlikely to become a point of contention between South Korea and the U.S. The official also indicated that discussions on follow-up security consultations, including the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines, will begin soon.
Additionally, the official revealed that they are negotiating a statement with Ukraine that includes an apology for unilaterally disclosing the transfer of North Korean prisoners to South Korea. Regarding the mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) caused by North Korean landmines, the official noted that they are considering countermeasures, including activities at the United Nations, and will take diplomatic action based on the final investigation results.
During a press briefing, the official addressed concerns about whether the Alaska LNG investment could impede security consultations on nuclear-powered submarines. They explained that this isn’t a matter of disagreement; rather, it lacked sufficient time to thoroughly assess the project’s commercial viability and rationality.
The official emphasized that Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy Kim Jeong-kwan clearly communicated to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Rutnik that all necessary procedures would be followed, stating that in this regard, it can say there’s no disagreement between South Korea and the U.S. They added that he believes it’s highly unlikely this will become a contentious issue.
Earlier, on Wednesday, President Trump announced the first U.S. investment project, which included the 50 billion USD Alaska LNG investment and the construction of eight large nuclear power plants in the U.S., despite these not being fully agreed upon between the two countries. Minister Kim reaffirmed that both nations agreed to proceed based on commercial viability, stating that if there’s no commercial viability, it won’t pursue it.
Regarding the introduction of South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarines and the revision of the nuclear cooperation agreement, the official noted that the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and President Trump on September 22 created a shift in atmosphere. They expressed their intention to move forward with negotiations swiftly, saying that it plans to initiate discussions on this issue soon and proceed with negotiations as quickly as possible in line with the objectives.
While acknowledging that practical contacts between South Korea and the U.S. haven’t progressed as much as expected, the official committed to accelerating consultations. Key agenda items include expanding uranium enrichment and reprocessing rights through revising the South Korea-U.S. nuclear cooperation agreement, securing U.S. cooperation in building nuclear-powered submarines, and fostering collaboration in the shipbuilding sector.
Foreign Minister Park Jin also stated during a press briefing that the South Korea-U.S. strategic investment represents a significant historical milestone in strengthening the alliance into a future-oriented comprehensive strategic partnership. He emphasized the need to accelerate negotiations to achieve tangible outcomes in areas such as nuclear-powered submarines, civilian uranium enrichment and reprocessing, shipbuilding cooperation, and the transfer of operational control.
Regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners to South Korea, the senior official noted that they aimed to maintain confidentiality for the safety of the individuals and their families. They stressed that it intended to keep this matter confidential for as long as possible.
The official clarified that the non-disclosure agreement with Ukraine covered the entire matter, stating that there was a clear agreement to maintain confidentiality. That is certain. They also confirmed that they had verified multiple times, including through a third party, that the prisoners’ transfer was voluntary.
Earlier, President Lee expressed on X (formerly Twitter) that Ukraine had unilaterally broken the non-disclosure agreement, warning that if they continue to refuse to acknowledge the facts and issue a public apology, it will take further action.
The official mentioned ongoing discussions with Ukraine about how to announce their position, including an apology, but noted that it haven’t reached an agreement on the content or level, so it can’t provide details. They refrained from elaborating on the specifics of the additional actions mentioned by the president, stating that it’s difficult to disclose at this time.
Regarding the DMZ mine explosion incident, the official described it as a very unfortunate event and emphasized that it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of national security.
When asked about potential responses at the United Nations (UN) Security Council level, the official stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely examining possible measures and reviewing options realistically, including actions through the UN. However, they clarified that once the final announcement is made, the Ministry will implement various measures based on those findings, explaining that government actions will follow the release of the final investigation results.
For specific responses, the official noted that they would reference the measures taken during the 2015 mine incident but acknowledged that the current situation differs. In 2015, the government sent a letter to the UN Security Council chair explaining the investigation results and expressing regret over North Korea’s provocation. The letter also urged restraint against further provocations.