Description: The US Department of Energy (DOE) has designated South Korea as a “sensitive” country with no clear ramifications in the bilateral relations between the two countries. South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang – mok has urged the South Korean ministries to ensure uninterrupted cooperation with the US on science, technology, economy and trade. The designation has prompted South Korea’s opposition Democratic party to strenuously criticize the current government establishment, labeling their policies as diplomatic failures. According to the DOE charter a country can be designated as “sensitive” due to national security concerns, nuclear nonproliferation, regional instability, threats to national economic security or terrorism support.
Impact: South Korea is currently facing severe and mounting political crisis with former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment and an abrupt constitutional crisis due to the Constitutional Court’s decision to prolong the decision regarding the impeachment. The country is also under constant threat by North Korea which recently has continuously pledged nuclear rearmament and development of new capacities as well as China with its growing naval and hybrid presence in the Indo – Pacific region. The designation as a “sensitive” country indicates potential future instability, in terms of political or national security crises, as no concrete repercussions were announced by the US DOE in terms of bilateral cooperation with South Korea.