Seoul: The United States has confirmed that South Korea's inclusion on the Department of Energy (DOE)'s list of "sensitive" countries is unrelated to growing calls in Seoul to build up its own nuclear weapons, Seoul's top diplomat stated. Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul addressed the matter during a parliamentary session, responding to a lawmaker's inquiry about South Korea's placement on the DOE's "sensitive and other designated countries list" (SCL).

According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho also clarified that the U.S. has confirmed the DOE list inclusion is not connected to speculation regarding the foreign policy stance of South Korea's main opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung. Lee is perceived to have a policy inclination more favorable to China than the U.S., which raised questions about a possible influence on the decision.

Cho communicated that the U.S. has publicly confirmed the designation is due to technical security considerations, rather than issues such as nuclear armament or industrial espionage. The foreign ministry had previously mentioned that the listing was related to security issues concerning DOE-affiliated research institutions, rather than a broad foreign policy decision.

Washington conveyed to the South Korean ministry that the inclusion was due to security regulation violations by South Korean researchers during their visits to DOE-affiliated laboratories or participation in joint research projects. Cho explained that the government was unaware of the placement earlier because it was considered an internal matter within the DOE.

Cho emphasized that the South Korean government is actively working to have the country removed from the list and expressed hope that the upcoming ministers' meeting would be a pivotal moment. Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun is scheduled to visit and engage in discussions with Energy Secretary Chris Wright, focusing on reversing the designation before it takes effect on April 15.