South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is pressing the United States for more flexibility on nuclear fuel handling to boost the country’s energy security. During a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Cho told US Energy Secretary Chris Wright that South Korea needs rights to reprocess and enrich nuclear fuel for commercial use only.
With 26 nuclear reactors powering much of its electricity, South Korea wants a full nuclear fuel cycle to keep things running smoothly, Cho explained. “This is all about stable operations for our power plants,” he emphasized, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Wright responded positively, saying he’d take the request to other US government agencies for discussion. The two also looked back on recent talks between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and US President Donald Trump, calling their nuclear energy cooperation “meaningful.” They agreed to keep consulting to iron out details and push for stronger ties between businesses in both countries. As global demand for nuclear power plants grows—including in the US—they see huge potential in teaming up companies to meet it.
This push comes as South Korea seeks changes to the 123 Agreement, a key US-South Korea nuclear pact that currently blocks spent fuel reprocessing and uranium enrichment.
In a separate meeting at the same UN event, Cho sat down with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to strengthen ties between their nations. The two ministers committed to building on over 60 years of cooperation by ramping up exchanges in culture, academia, and people-to-people connections.
Cho highlighted opportunities in fields where collaboration is already possible, pointing to the rising popularity of Korean culture and food in Iran as prime examples. They also touched on the sensitive topic of potential new UN sanctions against Iran, aiming to navigate global challenges together.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
