The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has designated South Korea, a key ally, as a “sensitive country,” putting it alongside nations like China, Russia, and North Korea in higher-risk categories.
Being on the list means the United States requires extra scrutiny on energy partnerships with the country over national security, nuclear proliferation, or regional instability concerns.
The decision, confirmed on March 14, comes as South Korea’s Constitutional Court nears a ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment.
The Biden administration added South Korea to the list in its last month in January, with the designation set to take effect on April 15. The DOE has not clarified whether the Trump administration intends to reverse it….