US, South Korea Advance Nuclear Partnership Amid Global Energy Growth Challenges

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is advancing nuclear energy by conditionally allocating high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to three companies to support the development of advanced reactors, aiming to enhance energy security and economic benefits while addressing environmental concerns. Indigenous communities have voiced concerns about the historical and ongoing impacts of uranium mining and radioactive waste storage on their lands, highlighting the need for safer waste management solutions, including innovative technologies like gamma-ray conversion of waste into energy. President Trump has set an ambitious goal to quadruple U.S. nuclear energy capacity by 2050, emphasizing nuclear power's critical role in meeting growing electricity demand driven by electrification and AI data centers, and there is a strategic partnership between the U.S. and South Korea to strengthen nuclear energy development amid global energy challenges. While nuclear energy offers cleaner electricity compared to fossil fuels, challenges such as high construction costs, long timelines, and safety risks persist for conventional nuclear power plants. These developments occur in a broader geopolitical context where energy security and climate change intersect with national security concerns, as highlighted in discussions on climate and energy policy at the national level.