South Korea U.S. Nuclear Cooperation 2026: Task Force Launches to Seek Enrichment Autonomy

Energy independence is on the horizon. South Korea's moved a step closer to self-reliant nuclear fuel production by launching a massive interagency team today. On January 9, 2026, officials in Seoul met to coordinate a strategy for upcoming negotiations with Washington regarding uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing.

South Korea U.S. Nuclear Cooperation 2026: Breaking the 123 Agreement Chains

The launch is a direct follow-up to the Gyeongju summit in October 2025. During that landmark meeting, President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to a framework that could grant Seoul the green light for peaceful nuclear processing. It's a significant shift from decades of restrictive policy, as the U.S. committed to supporting South Korea's bid for civil enrichment capabilities in a joint fact sheet.

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Rim Kap-soo, the representative for nuclear cooperation, led the inaugural meeting. The task force includes heavy hitters from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Science and ICT. They're taking a 'whole-of-government' approach to ensure both domestic and international conditions are ripe for this policy pivot.

Securing the Fuel Supply Chain

Under the current 123 Agreement, South Korea is restricted to enriching uranium below 20% and only with explicit U.S. consent. By seeking 'standing prior approval,' Seoul aims to stabilize its supply of low-enriched uranium for commercial reactors, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.