Korea fails to reverse US 'sensitive country' listing taking effect Tuesday

U.S. Department of Energy headquarters in Washington is seen in this photo taken Feb. 18. UPI-Yonhap

The government said Tuesday that more time is needed to resolve the U.S. designation of Korea as a "sensitive country" in the energy sector, as ongoing diplomatic efforts failed to reverse the decision by the April 15 deadline.

Despite a monthlong diplomatic engagement involving relevant ministries, including the foreign, industry and science ministries, Seoul was unable to persuade Washington to withdraw or postpone the designation.

"During a meeting with the U.S. secretary of energy on March 20, both sides agreed to cooperate in resolving the issue promptly in accordance with related procedures. Accordingly, relevant ministries are continuing negotiations with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including director general-level consultations," the foreign ministry said in a joint statement with the industry and science ministries.

"However, as this matter is being handled in accordance to U.S. internal procedures, it is expected to take some more time," the statement added.

The government stressed that the designation would not affect ongoing or future bilateral research or R&D cooperation, as reaffirmed in recent working-level consultations.

The statement came just hours before the DOE’s January decision to place Korea in the lowest tier of its Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List officially took effect on Tuesday (U.S. time).

The designation adds Korea to a list that consists primarily of the U.S.' traditional adversaries, including China, Russia and Iran, leading to fears that science and technology cooperation between the two allies may be hindered.

According to the DOE, researchers from designated sensitive countries are required to undergo stricter background checks before accessing U.S. national security laboratories. Such researchers should submit relevant documents and obtain separate approval at least 45 days before visiting certain DOE-affiliated facilities.

Additional security protocols will also apply when DOE employees or researchers communicate or collaborate with individuals from sensitive countries.

First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun speaks during an interpellation session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

"We are in constant communication with the U.S. side for a swift removal," a foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity, refusing to provide an expected timeline for the potential reversal.

The official also said the government is monitoring for any potential effects from the listing on bilateral cooperation, but noted that no relevant complaints have been filed by local researchers.

During a National Assembly interpellation session, Monday, Rep. Kim Byung-joo of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) called this designation a "serious diplomatic blunder" and criticized the foreign ministry for its delayed response.

In response, First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun said, "As this follows internal procedures within the DOE, the removal process may take some time."

In late March, Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun visited Washington and met with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright aiming to reverse the decision. During the meeting, both sides agreed to launch working-level talks aimed at finding a swift resolution.

However, the fact that the designation was made under the former Joe Biden administration appears to have complicated Seoul’s negotiations with the current Donald Trump administration.

Additionally, given the precedent of Korea being designated as a sensitive country in the early 1980s — and only removed from the list a decade later in 1994 — it is believed that the current designation may also take significant time to reverse.

The exact reasoning behind the DOE’s decision remains unclear. Some analysts in Seoul have linked the move to growing calls on the nation to obtain its own nuclear weapons, suggesting that Washington may be increasingly wary of discourse that goes against the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

According to the foreign ministry, the U.S. side confirmed that the move was driven by security concerns, rather than Korea’s foreign policy. However, it did not provide details of any specific incidents.