FM Cho calls for congressional support for progress in nuclear power, nuclear-powered subs, shipbuilding

▲ Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (L) poses with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) at their meeting in Washington on Feb. 2, 2026 (local time), in this photo provided by the foreign ministry in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (L) poses with U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) at their meeting in Washington on Feb. 4, 2026 (local time), in this photo provided by the foreign ministry in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

FM-US senators

FM Cho calls for congressional support for progress in nuclear power, nuclear-powered subs, shipbuilding

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Feb. 6 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has called for U.S. congressional support to make progress in the bilateral agreement regarding civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding, the foreign ministry said Friday.

Cho made the call during his meeting this week with U.S. senators in Washington -- Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) -- as Seoul has stepped up to reassure Washington of its commitment to implementing the summit agreements on trade and security.

Cho's trip to the United States came after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to raise the reciprocal tariffs on South Korea, citing the slow legislative process required to carry out Seoul's US$350 investment pledge.

Trump's warning has stoked concerns that the friction over the trade deal is holding up progress on other key security agreements, including Seoul's bid to secure the rights for civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing and to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

Cho told the senators that the joint fact sheet outlining the agreements, produced after the summits between Trump and President Lee Jae Myung, presented a "new blueprint" for the South Korea-U.S. alliance that would maximize national interests and prosperity for both countries, the ministry said.

"Minister Cho, in particular, called for active congressional support to ensure the cooperation in strategic sectors, including nuclear power, nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding, will make swift progress in the way that would elevate the strategic coordination between the two countries," it said.

Kaine said he will provide full support for the projects, including the nuclear cooperation, underscoring the importance of greater bilateral cooperation with allies amid the increasingly grave international landscape, according to the ministry.

Merkley said he expects in-depth discussions with South Korea on nonproliferation issues in relation to implementing the agreement on civil uranium enrichment and nuclear-powered submarines, given the security situation faced by South Korea amid North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

In response, Cho reaffirmed South Korea's commitment to nonproliferation obligations and stressed that commercial nuclear power must be clearly distinguished from military purposes.

Cotton noted the continued investments in the U.S. by South Korean companies and expressed expectations for the potential cooperation in civil nuclear power and nuclear-powered submarines, the ministry said.

Kim pledged to do his part to make swift progress in the joint fact sheet, highlighting that the recent issues should not undermine the mid- to long-term strategic interests between the allies.

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