A senior South Korean official denied that delays in a US nuclear submarine delegation visit were linked to the US Supreme Court ruling, attributing the delays instead to international circumstances such as the Iran situation.
A senior official from South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that the planned visit of a US delegation to discuss nuclear submarines and nuclear cooperation is not postponed due to the recent US Supreme Court ruling. The official emphasized that the security cooperation outlined in the joint fact sheet remains intact, despite perceptions that the Supreme Court's decision negatively impacts negotiations. There have been ongoing discussions between South Korea and the US to ensure that security dialogues are not hindered by external factors.
After the Supreme Court ruling related to customs duties and investment uncertainties, the timeline for the US delegation's visit has been postponed multiple times. Initially expected in January 2023, concerns raised by former President Trump regarding delays in South Korean investments in the US pushed the visit to late February or early March. The latest discussions indicate that further delays might occur due to complex geopolitical situations, particularly the ongoing Iran crisis and tensions surrounding the Ukraine war.
The official stated that while the US delegation's visit is not on hold, the coordination of representatives from various US agencies, including the National Security Council and the State Department, is taking longer than anticipated. Additionally, the official acknowledged that if delays persist, South Korea might consider sending a delegation to the US instead. They stressed that the ongoing customs negotiations with the US are not stagnant, but require thorough analyses from both sides to ensure compliance with prior agreements.
