(Yonhap Interview) U.S. lawmaker optimistic about congressional backing for S. Korea's nuclear-powered sub, nuclear energy push | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK By Kim Seung-yeon SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- A prominent U.S. lawmaker on Wednesday voiced optimism about congressional support for South Korea's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and secure uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing capabilities for peaceful use, citing broad bipartisan consensus. Ami Bera (D-CA) speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul on April 1, 2026. (Yonhap) Bera said there is broad consensus in Congress to support such efforts in the context of burden-sharing, even if not all lawmakers agree. He also noted that the commitments were made at the highest levels between the allies and should move forward "affirmatively." "I take that at face value," he said. "President Trump wants to see progress on the joint fact sheet." Regarding the U.S. military assets redeployed from Korea to the Middle East, Bera said while it is a "concerning" development, it also opens up room for discussions between the allies on co-production in the defense sector. "The Korean defense industries have advanced quite rapidly," he said. "In today's world where U.S. defense production lines are very stretched, I think this is a place where Congress and the National Assembly can work together on co-development of defense products." On the ongoing U.S. war in Iran, the lawmaker stressed the importance of cooperation with allies in Europe and Asia, including efforts to reduce long-term reliance on Middle Eastern energy, despite Trump's criticism of allies for their reluctance to support the U.S. in the conflict. "There's no way to stabilize the region without our allies," Bera said. "In the short term, let's get a ceasefire, and in the longer term, it has exposed how alliances with Korea, Japan and Asia should design the Middle Eastern natural gas and oil exports." "That has to involve partnerships with our Asian allies," he added. elly@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #US lawmaker #S Korea #alliance Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S. Korea Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang prev (Yonhap Interview) U.S. lawmaker optimistic about congressional backing for S.

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By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- A prominent U.S. lawmaker on Wednesday voiced optimism about congressional support for South Korea's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and secure uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing capabilities for peaceful use, citing broad bipartisan consensus.
Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) made the remarks as Seoul is seeking to speed up follow-up negotiations to implement security agreements reached with Washington under their joint fact sheet, produced after last year's two summits between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The U.S. has committed to supporting South Korea's bid to acquire the strategic vessels, including avenues to source fuel, as well as processes that will lead to uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing for civilian use.
Amid little progress on follow-up steps, concerns persist over whether the U.S. Congress would approve such sensitive moves, given its long-standing commitment to nonproliferation.
"I think Congress would," Bera said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency when asked whether U.S. lawmakers would green-light the moves.
"I think they understand that technology transfer and export controls have an important role. Those are all things that need to modernize," he said.
Bera, a ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, was visiting Seoul this week with a delegation of the bipartisan Congressional Study Group on Korea.
Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul on April 1, 2026. (Yonhap)
Bera said there is broad consensus in Congress to support such efforts in the context of burden-sharing, even if not all lawmakers agree.
He also noted that the commitments were made at the highest levels between the allies and should move forward "affirmatively."
"I take that at face value," he said. "President Trump wants to see progress on the joint fact sheet."
Regarding the U.S. military assets redeployed from Korea to the Middle East, Bera said while it is a "concerning" development, it also opens up room for discussions between the allies on co-production in the defense sector.
"The Korean defense industries have advanced quite rapidly," he said. "In today's world where U.S. defense production lines are very stretched, I think this is a place where Congress and the National Assembly can work together on co-development of defense products."
On the ongoing U.S. war in Iran, the lawmaker stressed the importance of cooperation with allies in Europe and Asia, including efforts to reduce long-term reliance on Middle Eastern energy, despite Trump's criticism of allies for their reluctance to support the U.S. in the conflict.
"There's no way to stabilize the region without our allies," Bera said. "In the short term, let's get a ceasefire, and in the longer term, it has exposed how alliances with Korea, Japan and Asia should design the Middle Eastern natural gas and oil exports."
"That has to involve partnerships with our Asian allies," he added.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
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(Yonhap Interview) U.S. lawmaker optimistic about congressional backing for S. Korea's nuclear-powered sub, nuclear energy push

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Amid little progress on follow-up steps, concerns persist over whether the U.S.
- Congress would approve such sensitive moves, given its long-standing commitment to nonproliferation. "I think Congress would," Bera said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency when asked whether U.S. lawmakers would green-light the moves. "I think they understand that technology transfer and export controls have an important role.
- He also noted that the commitments were made at the highest levels between the allies and should move forward "affirmatively." "I take that at face value," he said. "President Trump wants to see progress on the joint fact sheet." Regarding the U.S. military assets redeployed from Korea to the Middle East, Bera said while it is a "concerning" development, it also opens up room for discussions between the allies on co-production in the defense sector. "The Korean defense industries have advanced quite rapidly," he said. "In today's world where U.S. defense production lines are very stretched, I think this is a place where Congress and the National Assembly can work together on co-development of defense products." On the ongoing U.S. war in Iran, the lawmaker stressed the importance of cooperation with allies in Europe and Asia, including efforts to reduce long-term reliance on Middle Eastern energy, despite Trump's criticism of allies for their reluctance to support the U.S. in the conflict. "There's no way to stabilize the region without our allies," Bera said. "In the short term, let's get a ceasefire, and in the longer term, it has exposed how alliances with Korea, Japan and Asia should design the Middle Eastern natural gas and oil exports." "That has to involve partnerships with our Asian allies," he added. elly@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #US lawmaker #S Korea #alliance Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.
- Korea's strong backlash against growing S.

### Areas for Consideration
- He also noted that the commitments were made at the highest levels between the allies and should move forward "affirmatively." "I take that at face value," he said. "President Trump wants to see progress on the joint fact sheet." Regarding the U.S. military assets redeployed from Korea to the Middle East, Bera said while it is a "concerning" development, it also opens up room for discussions between the allies on co-production in the defense sector. "The Korean defense industries have advanced quite rapidly," he said. "In today's world where U.S. defense production lines are very stretched, I think this is a place where Congress and the National Assembly can work together on co-development of defense products." On the ongoing U.S. war in Iran, the lawmaker stressed the importance of cooperation with allies in Europe and Asia, including efforts to reduce long-term reliance on Middle Eastern energy, despite Trump's criticism of allies for their reluctance to support the U.S. in the conflict. "There's no way to stabilize the region without our allies," Bera said. "In the short term, let's get a ceasefire, and in the longer term, it has exposed how alliances with Korea, Japan and Asia should design the Middle Eastern natural gas and oil exports." "That has to involve partnerships with our Asian allies," he added. elly@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #US lawmaker #S Korea #alliance Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.

### Implications
- The U.S. has committed to supporting South Korea's bid to acquire the strategic vessels, including avenues to source fuel, as well as processes that will lead to uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing for civilian use.
- He also noted that the commitments were made at the highest levels between the allies and should move forward "affirmatively." "I take that at face value," he said. "President Trump wants to see progress on the joint fact sheet." Regarding the U.S. military assets redeployed from Korea to the Middle East, Bera said while it is a "concerning" development, it also opens up room for discussions between the allies on co-production in the defense sector. "The Korean defense industries have advanced quite rapidly," he said. "In today's world where U.S. defense production lines are very stretched, I think this is a place where Congress and the National Assembly can work together on co-development of defense products." On the ongoing U.S. war in Iran, the lawmaker stressed the importance of cooperation with allies in Europe and Asia, including efforts to reduce long-term reliance on Middle Eastern energy, despite Trump's criticism of allies for their reluctance to support the U.S. in the conflict. "There's no way to stabilize the region without our allies," Bera said. "In the short term, let's get a ceasefire, and in the longer term, it has exposed how alliances with Korea, Japan and Asia should design the Middle Eastern natural gas and oil exports." "That has to involve partnerships with our Asian allies," he added. elly@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #US lawmaker #S Korea #alliance Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.
- Korean Air to enter emergency management mode over soaring fuel costs Gov't proposes 26.2 tln-won extra budget to cushion impact of Middle East tensions Declassified documents show N.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers korea, bera, news topics. Notable strengths include discussion of korea. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 772.