South Korea calls to avoid impact on US cooperation after 'sensitive' country designation

FILE PHOTO: South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok speaks during the 106th Independence Movement Day ceremony at Soongeui Women's University on March 01, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok called on Monday to avoid any negative impact on science, technology and energy cooperation with the United States, after the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designated South Korea as a 'sensitive' country.

The U.S. department has not explained why South Korea was added to the list, which can cause curbs on cooperation, though a DOE spokesperson said Seoul faced no new limits on bilateral cooperation in science and technology from the designation.