Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the foreign ministers of the US, Japan, and South Korea signed a memorandum of cooperation during a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, held on the sidelines of the Atlantic Alliance Summit.
Content of the Agreement
The three representatives signed a 'memorandum of cooperation' aimed at 'facilitating interaction between Japanese, American, and South Korean companies regarding the deployment of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in third countries.'
According to Japanese authorities, this agreement is intended to improve energy supply in the Indo-Pacific region and ensure the 'highest level' of safety and non-proliferation. Furthermore, support for projects is planned through investments and loans.
South Korea's Position
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea described the pact as 'an opportunity for South Korea, the United States, and Japan, which possess complementary strengths in the civil nuclear sector, to promote mutually beneficial cooperation at the industrial level.'
Technical Aspects of SMRs
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear installations that currently operate in only two countries in the world (Russia and China). They have a capacity of up to 300 MW per unit, which is significantly less than traditional power plants with a capacity of 1000 MW, require a smaller construction volume, can be commissioned faster, and involve lower investment costs.
These reactors are viewed as one of the key options for the future of nuclear energy and attract the attention of major technology companies developing artificial intelligence due to the enormous energy generation needs of their data centers.
Other Topics of the Meetings
During the negotiations, the three leaders also discussed cooperation in artificial intelligence and the denuclearization of North Korea. The Japanese statement emphasized the importance of 'combating malicious cyber activities financing Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.'