South Korea, a leading fossil fuel importer, has expressed interest in participating in a $44 billion gas pipeline in Alaska in the form of a joint development between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, Yonhap News Agency reported on Tuesday.
South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun indicated interest in joining the Alaska gas project through trilateral cooperation during a visit to Washington D.C. last month, Yonhap cited unnamed government sources as saying.
During his visit, Ahn met with senior U.S. officials including Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Secretary of the Interior as well as co-chair of the White House National Energy Dominance Council Doug Burgum, the ministry previously said.
The trip was part of efforts by Seoul to get tariff exemptions from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and look at ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Washington.
The industry ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the pipeline report.
Reuters previously reported that Japan is considering offering support for the Alaska pipeline as it seeks to court Trump and forestall potential trade friction.
South Korea is the world’s third-largest importer of liquefied natural gas, behind China and Japan.
(Reporting by Joyce Lee Editing by Ed Davies)