What did JD Vance say about the status of the Alaska LNG project involving South Korea?

JD Vance said the United States and South Korea still need to work out details of the proposed Alaska LNG project, but he expects the pipeline to move forward. He said strong demand for American natural gas in Asia supports the project.

Why does JD Vance believe the Alaska gas pipeline will benefit Asian economies?

Vance said East Asian economies facing higher natural gas prices would benefit from increased supplies of U.S. gas. He also pointed to strong Asian demand for American natural gas and said Japan would welcome the pipeline as well as South Korea.

What must South Korea review before deciding whether to invest in the Alaska LNG project?

South Korea’s industry ministry said the Alaska LNG project must undergo review of its commercial viability and other factors before any investment decision is made. The ministry stressed that the project had not yet been finalized.

Vance says US, S. Korea still need to 'work out' details of Alaska gas project

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Summary

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Monday in Washington that the United States and South Korea still need to work out details of a proposed Alaska liquefied natural gas project. He expressed confidence that the pipeline will move forward, citing strong Asian demand for American natural gas. South Korea’s industry ministry said the project has not been finalized and requires reviews of commercial viability and other factors before an investment decision.

Key Facts

Vance said Japan, like South Korea, would welcome the Alaska pipeline because East Asian economies face higher natural gas prices.
The proposed project is part of South Korea’s U.S. investment projects announced by President Donald Trump under last year’s bilateral trade agreement.
South Korea’s announced investment projects also include a gas-fired power plant in Texas and eight large-scale nuclear power plants.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 6, 2026 3:38 am KST

U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks during a campaign rally in support of Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds in Lakeland, Florida, on Oct. 1. AFP-Yonhap

WASHINGTON — U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Monday the United States and South Korea still need to "work out" details of a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska, while expressing confidence that the project will ultimately move forward amid strong Asian demand for American gas.

"The pipeline is something that we really want to see happen and a lot of our Asian friends want to happen as well," Vance said, according to a White House pool report. "It's not just the South Koreans. The Japanese would love to see this pipeline."

"So I think it's something that's going to happen," he said. "Obviously, you still got to work out some of the details and the South Koreans, you know, have spoken to that."

Vance said East Asian economies that have faced higher natural gas prices would benefit from increased supplies of U.S. gas.

"When there's a demand for this stuff and there really is strong demand for American natural gas, I think we're going to be able to get it done," he added.

U.S. President Donald Trump last week announced South Korea's U.S. investment projects under last year's bilateral trade agreement: the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Texas, eight large-scale nuclear power plants and the LNG project in Alaska.

South Korea's industry ministry, however, said the Alaska LNG project had not yet been finalized, stressing that its commercial viability and other factors would need to be reviewed before any investment decision is made.

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