Czech president signals optimism on Korea inking nuclear plant deal in summit

President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday in Prague that the Korean and U.S. governments are collaborating to resolve legal obstacles in advancing a major nuclear plant project in the Czech Republic.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Czech President Petr Pavel speak during a joint press conference at the Prague Castle Thursday following their bilateral summit as the Korean leader makes a four-day official visit to the Czech Republic. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

PRAGUE — President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday that the Korean and U.S. governments are collaborating to resolve legal obstacles in advancing a major nuclear plant project in the Czech Republic.

"The Korean and U.S. governments are forming a firm consensus on nuclear power plant cooperation," Yoon said in a joint press conference at the Prague Castle following his bilateral summit with Czech President Petr Pavel.

"I am confident that this will be resolved, just as it was with the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)," Yoon said, referring to a 2009 deal with the UAE.

Yoon's visit to Prague comes after the Czech government in July decided on a Korean consortium led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) as the preferred bidder to build two nuclear reactors in Dukovany in an estimated 24 trillion won ($17.3 billion) project.

However, U.S. company Westinghouse Electric and France's EDF have since filed appeals, posing possible legal challenges to Korea and the Czech Republic finalizing the deal as the two sides aim for a legally binding agreement to be inked next March.

Westinghouse claims that the deal could violate its intellectual property, arguing that the KHNP's APR1000 plant designs utilize its licensed technology and would require the U.S. company's consent to use it in a third party project.

In Thursday's joint press conference, Pavel stressed that it would be "beneficial for the dispute to be resolved successfully," noting that reaching an agreement will be advantageous for all sides.

He signaled that he believes the problem will be resolved successfully, noting that both sides are optimistic about resolving the intellectual property issue.

Yoon likewise stressed that building nuclear power plants jointly means "a step forward in strategic cooperation between the two countries," and forming a "nuclear energy alliance" because the two sides will cooperate not only in developing new technologies but also in training personnel.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, and Czech President Petr Pavel inspect an honor guard at the Prague Castle Thursday during an official welcome ceremony ahead of their bilateral summit. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee arrived in Prague earlier Thursday for a four-day official visit expected to further solidify the nuclear power plant deal and expand bilateral economic cooperation.

On Thursday afternoon, Yoon and Kim were received by Pavel in an official welcome ceremony at the Prague Castle, and the leaders observed an honor guard. Later, the Korean and Czech presidential couples held a private meeting.

Yoon and Pavel then took part in a bilateral summit, followed by a joint press conference.

Pavel reportedly expressed optimism that the Korean consortium would win the contract to build the Dukovyi nuclear power plants during the summit talks, Kim Tae-hyo, principal deputy national security adviser, said in a press briefing later Thursday.

Pavel was quoted as conveying that the Czech Republic "has high expectations for Korea's participation in the Dukovany nuclear power plant project" and is "optimistic" about KHNP securing the final deal. He conveyed hopes to work together to make this project "a new foundation for the development of relations between the two countries," according to Kim.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, center left, and Czech President Petr Pavel, center right, hold a bilateral summit flanked by aides at the Prague Castle Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Through the press conference, the two leaders likewise expressed their expectations in strengthening comprehensive cooperation between the two countries through nuclear power plants.

Yoon noted that the Dukovany nuclear power plant deal "will be a path to take the economic, industrial, and scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries to the next level."

He added that "building a nuclear power plant together means a step forward in strategic cooperation between the two countries."

Pavel likewise focused on the necessity of building nuclear power plants to transition to clean energy.

He said that if Korea seals the final deal for the Dukovany nuclear power plant project, "there is great potential for cooperation between Korea and the Czech Republic," as well as other European countries such as Poland and Slovakia.

"We can work together to advance into third countries," he added.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, center left, and first lady Kim Keon Hee, left, and Czech President Petr Pavel, center right, and first lady Eva Pavlova, right, chat at the Prague Castle Thursday after an official welcome ceremony. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Likewise, the two leaders noted that the two countries will collaborate on the design and construction of nuclear power plants if the deal is inked, and expressed hopes that the project could also create more jobs.

Yoon stressed that the construction project will serve as a "milestone" in the two countries' mutual economic development and energy cooperation.

He said the two countries have decided to strengthen cooperation in key sectors including politics, economy, culture, technology, diplomacy and security and defense industry.

Next year will mark the 35th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic cooperation.

The two leaders also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on reconstruction projects and aid for Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.

They later took part in a dinner banquet hosted by Pavel.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, center left, Czech President Petr Pavel, center right, give a toast accompanied by their wives at an official dinner banquet following their bilateral summit. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]