Photo : YONHAP News
President Yoon Suk Yeol reportedly said that he is confident a nuclear plant deal with the Czech Republic will be completed despite legal concerns.
Yoon made the remarks in a written interview with Reuters ahead of his visit to the European country on Thursday, assuring that there is no need to worry about the Czech Republic’s nuclear power plant construction project.
In the interview released on Thursday, Yoon said that South Korea is confident it can overcome any obstacles to the project despite appeals against the deal launched by Westinghouse and EDF.
In July, the Czech Republic selected Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) as the preferred bidder to build two new nuclear power units, but the U.S.-based Westinghouse and France’s EDF appealed the Czech decision after losing in the final tender round.
Yoon reportedly said that Seoul and Washington were working to create an “amicable atmosphere” among businesses in the nuclear energy sector, expressing confidence that this effort will help facilitate a smooth resolution to any dispute that might arise between the two sides.
The president said that the government will closely communicate with the Czech government to ensure the final contract is concluded seamlessly, stressing that the project’s success was of “paramount importance.”
Yoon also said that he would explore joint responses with Czech leaders to address North Korea’s nuclear and missile development and Pyongyang’s increasing military transactions with Russia.