Washington: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has placed South Korea on its list of "sensitive" countries, a spokesperson confirmed on Friday. The decision follows recent political instability in Seoul and discussions about the possibility of South Korea developing nuclear weapons.
According to the DOE, the Biden administration assigned South Korea to the lowest tier of its Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List in January, shortly before leaving office. The department did not clarify the specific reasons behind this decision, nor did it indicate whether President Donald Trump planned to reverse the designation. However, the DOE emphasized that the move would not impose new restrictions on science and technology cooperation between the two nations.
The designation, which is set to take effect on April 15, has raised concerns in Seoul. South Korea's foreign ministry said it was in close communication with Washington and was actively working to ensure that the decision does not negatively impact bilateral collaboration in energy, science, and technology.
The DOE list includes countries such as China, Taiwan, Israel, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Tehran and Pyongyang are designated as "terrorist" states, according to a 2017 document from the department.
The U.S. move comes amid heightened nuclear debate in South Korea. President Yoon Suk Yeol and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun have previously suggested that Seoul might need to pursue its own nuclear weapons program due to growing concerns over North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and uncertainty regarding the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
Yoon was impeached in December after declaring martial law for six hours, and he is now facing charges of insurrection alongside Kim. His presidential powers have been suspended while the court reviews whether to remove him from office.
Although Yoon agreed to a 2023 pact with Washington that increased South Korea's role in U.S. nuclear deterrence planning—while reaffirming Seoul’s commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty—calls for an independent South Korean nuclear arsenal persist.
Last month, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul stated that while nuclear weapons are not currently under consideration, Seoul cannot rule out the option given the unpredictable international climate.
Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, supported the DOE’s decision, citing South Korea as a potential proliferation risk due to its recent rhetoric. He noted that the designation could prevent Seoul from seeking U.S. approval to enrich uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel—steps that could be used to develop nuclear weapons.
The South Korean government has expressed frustration over the handling of the designation, with Cho revealing that Seoul only learned about it through informal channels rather than direct communication from Washington.
While inclusion on the list does not automatically indicate hostility between the U.S. and South Korea, it does mean that collaborations in sensitive scientific and technical fields will undergo additional review. The DOE, however, reaffirmed its commitment to working with South Korea to advance mutual interests.
