The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is reviewing the possibility of designating South Korea as a “sensitive country,” according to Seoul’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, who confirmed on Tuesday that the government has received unofficial reports on the issue. 

While Cho noted that the DOE has not communicated this potential redesignation directly to Seoul, with reports suggesting the move is currently at the review and opinion-gathering stage, he acknowledged that the foreign ministry is concerned.