Amid growing tensions over intelligence sharing, Kang Kyung-wha, South Korea's ambassador to the U.S., stated that she is facing difficulties in communicating with the White House. The fallout from remarks made by Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young regarding nuclear facilities appears to be significant, raising concerns that issues could extend to economic matters such as U.S. investments.
According to political sources, during a National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit held in Washington, D.C., on October 12, Kang remarked, "The most discussed issue is related to intelligence cooperation," indicating challenges in intelligence sharing between South Korea and the U.S. She noted that concerns about intelligence sharing were raised during a meeting between Foreign Minister Park Jin and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 18.
Kang added, "I do not believe that the issues have been sufficiently resolved to meet U.S. expectations," acknowledging limitations in communication with the White House. She emphasized that while she frequently meets with officials from the National Security Council and other key figures, high-level discussions are currently frustratingly limited.
Additionally, Kang conveyed a request for clarification regarding Jeong's remarks to the U.S. but did not disclose the U.S. response. On the same day, Jeong held a press conference, stating that he had made similar comments during his time as a lawmaker in July of last year, arguing that raising issues about his remarks made in March while serving as minister was a mistake on the part of the U.S.
The difficulties in high-level communication between the two countries are raising concerns about their economic cooperation, particularly regarding U.S. investments. Earlier this month, South Korea and the U.S. announced plans for strategic investment projects, including a gas-fired power plant in Texas, U.S. nuclear power plants, and Alaska LNG. As the two countries work to clarify project conditions and secure opportunities for domestic companies, diplomatic friction could complicate further negotiations.
The South Korean government has decided to pursue the Texas gas-fired power plant as its first strategic investment project, with a total project cost of $22.3 billion. In contrast, the construction of eight large nuclear power plants is still in the framework of comprehensive cooperation, requiring confirmation of site, project structure, and construction schedule. The decision on participation in Alaska LNG will also depend on whether it meets commercial viability and domestic legal requirements.
Particularly regarding Alaska LNG, there are clear differences in opinion. While the U.S. has made statements implying South Korea's large-scale investment is a given, the South Korean government has clarified that the investment amount and decision have not yet been determined. Kim Jeong-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, expressed regret that the U.S. announcement exceeded the scope of their agreement. In a situation where differences over project viability need to be reconciled, difficulties in high-level discussions with the White House could hinder narrowing these gaps.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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