Archive · 15 Sep 2026
South Korea, Kazakhstan Expand Nuclear Energy and Mineral Cooperation
South Korea and Kazakhstan agreed to cooperate on using nuclear energy peacefully.
Their presidents also discussed trade, energy, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence.
The two countries signed 13 cooperation documents.
These documents included agreements involving crude oil, science, and technology.
South Korea wants more reliable supplies of energy and minerals.
Kazakhstan has large mineral resources, including resources that could support high-tech industries.
South Korea offered its technology to help explore and produce those resources.
The two countries are trying to work more closely during a time of economic uncertainty.
South Korea and Kazakhstan signed a memorandum on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The countries signed 13 documents covering atomic energy, crude oil, science and technology, and other areas.
Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed cooperation amid global economic turbulence.
South Korea is seeking to diversify its energy and mineral supplies, including lithium and other critical minerals.
South Korea will host Kazakhstan and four other Central Asian leaders for a multilateral summit on expanded cooperation.
- Who
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, along with their governments.
- What
- South Korea and Kazakhstan signed 13 documents, including a memorandum on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and pledged broader cooperation.
- When
- The agreements were signed on Tuesday, September 15; a wider Central Asia summit was scheduled for Wednesday.
- Where
- The leaders met in South Korea; the specific signing venue was not stated.
- Why
- South Korea seeks to diversify energy and mineral supplies, while both countries want to expand trade, technology, energy, and critical-mineral cooperation.
- Nuclear cooperation
- The countries signed a memorandum on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
- Documents signed
- Thirteen documents were signed, including agreements on crude oil and science and technology.
- Leaders
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
- Mineral focus
- Potential cooperation includes lithium and other critical minerals.
- Technology role
- South Korea encouraged businesses to use its technology to explore and produce Kazakhstan’s mineral resources.
- Regional summit
- South Korea planned to host Kazakhstan and four other Central Asian leaders for a multilateral summit.
- Policy context
- Seoul has pursued the New Northern Policy since 2017 to deepen economic ties with Central Asia and other Eurasian partners.