By Ian Werther in News — 14 Mar 2026

South Korea, U.S. push faster security pacts, nuclear subs and investment deals

In Washington, D.C., on January 12, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the White House to press for speeding the implementation of outcomes from recent Korea-U.S. negotiations, including the potential procurement of nuclear-powered submarines and other security agreements.

Kim noted that the Special Act on U.S. Investment had passed the South Korean National Assembly the previous day, signaling a stronger legal framework to support investment deals with the United States. Vance welcomed the passage and urged continued close communication on investment between the two countries.

The prime minister used the meeting to push for accelerating the implementation of the Korea-U.S. joint fact sheet, with emphasis on security-related items such as nuclear submarines, nuclear energy, and shipbuilding. He also highlighted cooperation in critical minerals and the government’s favorable decision on Google’s request related to map data.

Gyeonggi-do Province Governor Kim Moon-soo and leaders of Taeseongdong recognize U.S. Army Lt. Col. Daniel Edwan, commander of the U.N. Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area, for his work to protect the village at the Taeseongdong Village 60th anniversary celebration in the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, Aug. 2, 2013. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Vance expressed willingness to maintain ongoing dialogue on non-tariff barriers, and the two sides noted that concerns raised previously, including issues around Coupang and religious matters, are now being managed more stably.

The discussion also touched on U.S. tariff policy, with the U.S. Trade Representative announcing a Section 301 investigation into 15 countries, including Korea and the European Union. The timing suggests non-tariff barrier concerns may be connected to this broader review.

There is a rise of investment in clean technology supply changes projected for 2030 demonstrated in these graphs, shown through the annual manufacturing capacity for these technologies and the cumulative investment needs from the Net Zero by 2050 scenario. This graph was published as part of the International Energy Agency's Energy Technology Perspectives 2023 report. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Kim also met Senator Andy Kim to seek support for passage of the Korea Partner Act, which would create a visa quota for Korean professionals and improve U.S. visa policies to ensure the stable residency of skilled workers. He urged swift progress on this as part of expanding bilateral mobility.

During the visit, Kim hosted a roundtable in Washington with executives from major Korean companies operating in the United States—Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG, Hanwha, and POSCO—along with representatives from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Korea’s power and energy groups, and related industry bodies. The aim was to deepen economic ties and align corporate and public-sector efforts in the United States.

In remarks at the event, Kim underscored that strengthening Korea’s international standing and advancing the Korea-U.S. relationship are essential for both countries’ economies and security. He urged Korean firms and public institutions in the U.S. to take a broader role in driving deepening economic cooperation and to serve as a hub for Korean culture as part of a broader bilateral strategy.

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