I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Korea, Vietnam to cooperate in nuclear energy
Two leaders also agree to expand trade, investments
By Kang Hyun-kyung
The leaders of South Korea and Vietnam agreed Tuesday to closely work together to promote cooperation in the civilian nuclear energy sector.
During a summit held at Cheong Wa Dae, President Lee Myung-bak and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang adopted a joint research proposal to build two nuclear reactors in the Southeast Asian country, under the “Overall Joint Proposed Plan.”
Under the plan, government officials and scientists of the two countries will launch a joint study to investigate the necessary conditions to construct Korea’s nuclear reactor model, dubbed APR 1400, in Vietnam.
The presidential office didn’t unveil details of the proposal at the request of the Vietnamese side.
The approval means Korea has inched closer to get an order to construct nuclear power plants in the Southeast Asian country.
Vietnam reportedly plans to build 10 nuclear reactors to meet soaring demand for electricity.
It signed a nuclear power plant deal with Russia last October. Under the plan, Russia will construct two reactors in the southern province of Ninh Thuan.
The Southeast Asian country clinched another power plant deal with Japan.
In 2009, Korea exported its first nuclear technology to the United Arab Emirates after it signed a deal to build four nuclear reactors in Abu Dhabi.
Since then, the government has pushed the export of its nuclear reactor technology overseas.
The nuclear push, however, met a major challenge after a tsunami and ensuing earthquakes devastated the eastern part of Japan in March. This led to meltdown in some Fukushima nuclear reactors in the neighborhood of the earthquake-torn region.
The nuclear crisis in Fukushima caused several governments, including Germany, to rethink their plan to build nuclear reactors to meet soaring energy demand.
But countries like China and Vietnam announced they would not drop the plan to build nuclear reactors as they need to meet demand for electricity.
During the summit, Lee and Sang agreed on a 12-point Korea-Vietnam Joint Statement.
The two sides agreed to expand trade and investments so that they can achieve $20 billion in trade earlier than 2015 the two sides set earlier.
“We worked closely not only in trade but also other areas such as culture and defense as human-to-human contacts are active in both nations,” presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha said.
The leaders of Korea and Vietnam also agreed on high-level contacts and human-to-human exchange programs.
Nearly 110,000 Vietnamese people are living in Korea as migrant workers or spouses.
Vietnam shared the idea that its development partnership with Korea played a catalyst role in upgrading its socio-economic status.
The Korean government pledged to keep helping the Southeast Asian nation achieve growth with the mid-term development strategy.
Lee and Sang agreed to launch a symbolic cooperation program to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relationships. Under the plan, the two sides will consider a training program for judges and the establishment of a magnet high school in Hanoi.
The Vietnamese leader arrived in Seoul Tuesday for a three-day state visit.