Korea expects "practical progress" as it pitches defense and reactors in Europe

Choi Sang-mok. [Photo by Yonhap]

The South Korean government raised hopes for a “practical progress” from defense and reactor sales pitch by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol during his summits with leaders of Poland and other European nations on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) conference in Madrid.

On Wednesday, Yoon met with Polish President Andrzej Duda and held talks with focus on cooperation in the areas of defense and nuclear reactors.

“The two leaders had in-depth talks on defense cooperation, and we expect practical progress in near future,” according to Choi Sang-mok, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs.

Poland has examined Korea’s defense systems including the FA-50 fighter, K2 tank, and K9 Thunder.

The Korean summit and government team through the NATO conference momentum had put high priority in the sale of Korean reactor technology in Europe where demand is brewing for energy security to wean off Russian fuel and carbon reduction commitment.

Ahead of the NATO summit, the Korean government formed a public-private reactor team comprised of the industry and energy ministry, KEPCO E&C, Doosan Enerbility, and Daewoo E&C for full-fledged marketing activity.

Trade and energy minister Lee Chang-yang met with Czech senior officials and political figures in Prague on Tuesday. He explained Korean reactor technology to his counterpart Jozef Sikela.

The Czech Republic spending $7 billion to add reactors for energy independence launched a tender in May for a new nuclear project in Dukovany where U.S. Westinghouse, France’s EDF, and Korea’s state Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Corp. have passed government security appraisal.

It will be receiving bids in November to name a winning bidder by 2024. Other countries in central Europe, Slovakia, and Hungry also are working to expand nuclear power production.

South Korea has built four nuclear reactors in the United Arab Emirates through indigenous technology.

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