South Korea and the United States are set to sign a groundbreaking agreement covering cutting-edge scientific and technological fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, space exploration, and sixth-generation mobile communication (6G).
Foreign media reported on Tuesday that the agreement will be signed in Gyeongju during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The signing ceremony is scheduled to coincide with the South Korea-U.S. summit on Wednesday.
The comprehensive agreement encompasses several key areas. It will strengthen export controls on AI technology, ease regulations for technology companies, and establish measures for storing and utilizing distributed data. Moreover, the accord aims to enhance supply chains in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, bolster research security measures, protect advancements in quantum technology, and foster collaboration in space and 6G technologies.
Experts view this enhanced scientific and technological partnership between the two nations as a strategic move aimed at countering China’s aggressive technology drive. This South Korea-U.S. agreement follows similar pacts with the UK and Japan. Analysts interpret this as a strategy by U.S. President Donald Trump to solidify a technological alliance with key allies such as South Korea, Japan, and the UK are seen as a preemptive measure ahead of his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan on Thursday.
In a related development, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently co-signed documents addressing the supply and security of rare earth elements and critical minerals. This move is widely interpreted as a response to China’s export restrictions on these vital resources.
