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South Korea, U.S. and Japan Sign Pact on Small Modular Reactors
Foreign ministers from South Korea, the United States and Japan signed a memorandum of cooperation on small modular reactors on July 7 in Ankara. The agreement creates a framework for joint advancement into the Indo-Pacific SMR market.
Jul 13, 4:39 AM·1m read1 source
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South Korea, the United States and Japan signed a memorandum of cooperation on small modular reactors on July 7 in Ankara, Turkey, Yonhap reported Monday. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signed the document on the sidelines of the NATO leaders' summit.
The memorandum establishes a government-level framework for the three countries' nuclear industries to enter the global SMR market, beginning in the Indo-Pacific region. A South Korean foreign ministry official said the pact aims to support SMR deployment in Indo-Pacific countries.
The official noted that South Korea brings nuclear power plant construction capabilities, the United States contributes advanced reactor design technologies and Japan supplies strengths in manufacturing key equipment.
The initiative was first proposed by Washington, with discussions starting in the first half of 2025. The agreement has been welcomed through various diplomatic channels, indicating growing interest among regional partners, ministry officials said. According to the World Nuclear Association, global SMR capacity could reach 158 gigawatts by 2040 and more than 400 gigawatts by 2050, accounting for over 30 percent of global nuclear power demand.
