PRAGUE — President Yoon Suk Yeol and Czech President Petr Pavel agreed to strengthen diplomatic, financial and safety ties between the 2 nations, at a time when South Korea is working to finalize the contract with Czech authorities over its 24 trillion gained ($18 billion) nuclear export deal.
“(To collectively counter international disaster and threats of authoritarianism), our two nations have determined to bolster cooperation in key areas together with politics, economic system, tradition, expertise, diplomacy and safety, and protection consistent with the thirty fifth anniversary of our diplomatic relations and tenth anniversary of complete strategic partnership,” Yoon stated in a joint press convention with Pavel held at Prague Fortress on Thursday.
Yoon held a summit with Pavel at Prague Fortress, the Czech President’s official residence, after arriving within the Czech Republic on Thursday. Yoon can be set to carry talks with Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Friday.
The leaders additionally agreed that the nuclear export deal would function a cornerstone for nuclear cooperation between the 2 nations.
“With the Dukovany nuclear energy plant development challenge through which Korea Hydro and Nuclear Energy was chosen as the popular bidder working as a possibility to boost cooperative momentum between the 2 nations, we have now determined to increase strategic cooperation in fostering high-tech industries, vitality safety and preventing local weather disaster,” Yoon stated.
“The tender presents an amazing alternative for the Czech industries,” Pavel stated on the press convention, which was translated in Korean. “We’re looking for a excessive stage of localization and we wish to have Czech corporations comprise 60 p.c of all particiapants within the challenge. This represents our need for technological achievement on this discipline.”
Earlier in July, a gaggle of South Korean corporations led by the state-run KHNP was chosen as the popular bidder for the Czech development challenge to construct not less than two nuclear energy models with 1,000 megawatts of capability respectively in Dukovany, a metropolis 170 kilometers southeast of Prague. Together with KHNP, Doosan Enerbility and Daewoo Engineering and Building additionally partake within the consortium.
The identical consortium additionally has the unique proper to a contract for 2 extra models in Temelin, 100 kilometers south of Prague, if the Czech authorities approves the challenge.
Yoon pledged that the South Korean authorities would pay particular consideration to the challenge in order that the finalization of the deal can be “carried out easily.”
Yoon and Pavel agreed to foster future-oriented progress by teaming up within the discipline of nuclear vitality growth, commerce, funding, cutting-edge expertise, science and transportation infrastructure.
The 2 governments additionally agreed to actively assist corporations from each nations that want to take part in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction tasks, enabling them to share enterprise info, collectively develop tasks, and entice joint investments by means of concrete cooperation. In addition they agreed to collectively reply to army exchanges between North Korea and Russia.
Earlier than departing for Prague, Yoon advised Reuters in a written interview launched Thursday that the Czech challenge holds “paramount significance,” including that his journey was partly meant to solidify Prague’s dedication to the signing of the deal as deliberate in March 2025.
The go to comes at a time of heightened uncertainties surrounding the nuclear vitality bid, as US vitality agency Westinghouse and French firm EDF each appealed towards the Czech authorities’ determination to pick out the South Korean consortium as the popular bidder.
When requested in regards to the potential obstacles by Westinghouse, Yoon stated on the press convention South Korea and the US “shares a transparent consensus” over the nuclear vitality cooperation concerning the mental property points, including that the South Korean authorities is working for an amicable resolution to the battle between corporations in South Korea and the US.
Pavel stated, “An arbitration of the dispute between South Korea and the US will likely be useful to all events involved, and reaching a type of compromise as an alternative of dragging time may very well be advantageous for each South Korea and the US.” He added he has not dominated out a “unhealthy situation” however stated there’s little likelihood.
Yoon’s go to to Prague, the Czech Republic’s capital, will observe that of South Korean particular envoys in July, led by Sung Tae-yoon, director of nationwide coverage at Yoon’s workplace; and Minister of Commerce, Business and Vitality Ahn Duk-geun.
Czech nationwide safety adviser Tomas Pojar earlier in September reciprocated South Korean envoys’ go to. In accordance with Yoon’s workplace, Pojar stated throughout his assembly with Yoon that he was assured Prague “will conclude a closing contract with Korea” for the Dukovany challenge.
Workers reporter Jung Min-kyung in Seoul contributed to this text. — Ed.
