South Korea and the United States have intensified their cooperation in nuclear energy, holding high-level talks in Busan just days after the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump.
Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Ji-na met with US Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly on the sidelines of an APEC ministerial meeting. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expand nuclear energy collaboration, especially in the small modular reactor (SMR) sector.
&ldquo;Vice Minister Kim proposed the two countries work to deepen nuclear energy cooperation in a way that will contribute to strengthening the bilateral alliance, with Deputy Secretary Danly reaffirming commitment to enhancing such cooperation,&rdquo; the ministry noted.
The meeting came after major announcements during the Lee-Trump summit in Washington, where both leaders stressed closer ties in clean energy and shipbuilding. Business partnerships were also announced, including preliminary deals by Korea Hydro &amp; Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Doosan Enerbility with US-based X-energy and Amazon Web Services for SMR design, construction, and supply chain development.
KHNP also partnered with Fermi and Samsung C&amp;T on SMR construction, while Doosan Enerbility secured an agreement with Fermi to supply SMR equipment for an AI-linked project. A separate joint investment between KHNP and Centrus on uranium enrichment facilities was also signed.
Public opinion at home reflected cautious optimism. A Realmeter survey showed 53.1% of South Koreans viewed the Lee-Trump summit positively, while 41.5% expressed skepticism. Notably, 60.7% said progress had been made, highlighting support for Lee&rsquo;s early diplomatic overtures.
The talks underscore a growing alignment between Seoul and Washington not only in nuclear energy but also in regional security and economic cooperation.

Seoul, Washington Deepen Nuclear Energy Ties

Talks follow Lee-Trump summit, focus on SMR projects, supply chains & uranium enrichment

Seoul, Washington Deepen Nuclear Energy Ties

Talks follow Lee-Trump summit, focus on SMR projects, supply chains & uranium enrichment

August 27, 2025 | 13:52 IST