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South Korea
Intelligence for Better Decision Making
South Korea Unveils National Strategy to Lead Global AI Semiconductor Race
Dec. 11, 2025 | Technology & InnovationSouth Korea is charting an ambitious path to solidify its leadership in semiconductor technology and policy amid the global AI race.
**On December 10, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung convened a high-level briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul under the theme “K-Semiconductor Vision and Development Strategy in the AI Era.” The briefing brought together key government figures and roughly 40 leaders from industry, academia and research institutions, including representatives from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.**
It stressed the dual role of the semiconductor sector as an engine of economic growth and a pillar of national security as global rivalry in AI technologies intensifies.
**The government set strategic objectives to secure South Korea’s place among the world’s top two in both memory and foundry by preserving an “ultra-gap” technological edge.**
It aims to increase domestic fabless semiconductor revenue tenfold and achieve technology and production sovereignty through the development and commercialization of next-generation memory solutions and neural processing units. The plan also calls for strengthening system semiconductor capabilities—especially on-device AI chips—and for achieving self-reliance in defense-grade semiconductors.
**To support these goals, the strategy launches a Global No 1 Development Project to reinforce supply chains for materials, parts and equipment.**
It calls for opening semiconductor-focused graduate schools to build a larger skilled workforce and for creating a Southern Region Innovation Belt to expand the nation’s semiconductor ecosystem. During the briefing, participants discussed changes in the AI-driven industry, plans to increase production capacity and the need to cultivate a robust AI semiconductor technology and ecosystem.
**On December 11, President Lee will meet with business executives from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, government officials and industry experts to refine strategies for advancing the semiconductor sector, with a particular focus on AI chip development.**
The session aims to address rising global competition for AI technology leadership through a coordinated national strategy.
**Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will present an integrated government roadmap that emphasizes strengthening manufacturing capabilities in memory and foundry, expanding the nation’s role in chip design and accelerating next-generation semiconductors tailored to AI model requirements.**
The presidential office framed the global AI contest as a semiconductor-centered technology battle, prompting President Lee to mobilize national resources directly to bolster the industry.
US Approves Nvidia H200 AI Chip Exports to China in Strategic Shift of Semiconductor Policy
Dec. 11, 2025 | Geopolitics & DefenseThe United States has granted permission for the export of Nvidia’s H200 AI chip to China, ushering in a new phase of semiconductor trade dynamics.
**The United States approved the export of Nvidia’s H200 AI chip to China, partially relaxing the 2022 restrictions.**
Former President Donald Trump announced the deal on December 8, 2025, allowing Nvidia, AMD, Intel and other American firms to sell the H200 under conditions designed to protect national security. This represents the first approval for such an advanced AI processor since the 2022 export controls took effect.
**Based on the 2023 Hopper architecture, the H200 delivers roughly twice the inference performance and six times the AI training power of the earlier H20 chip.**
US officials excluded more advanced Nvidia products—those built on the Blackwell architecture and the forthcoming Rubin family—from the arrangement. By permitting exports of this earlier-generation, high-performance chip, policymakers aim to preserve a technological lead without forfeiting access to lucrative sales.
**Under the agreement, Nvidia must remit 25 percent of its China-derived revenues from H200 sales to the US government, up from an initial 15 percent proposal.**
The government will allocate these funds to bolster domestic job creation and semiconductor manufacturing, balancing export facilitation with continued economic and security interests in strategic technology.
**South Korean suppliers SK hynix and Samsung Electronics stand to gain from increased H200 orders, as both companies produce the eight-layer HBM3E high-bandwidth memory modules integral to the chip’s performance.**
China’s mandate favoring domestically produced semiconductors may limit H200 imports, depending on Beijing’s policy toward foreign hardware deployment versus homegrown alternatives.
**Observers view this approval as a strategic shift in Washington’s competition with China in AI and semiconductors.**
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says selling chips to China reinforces US market influence and deepens Chinese reliance on American technology. The decision reflects a belief that US leverage over China’s chip capabilities has weakened after advances by firms such as Huawei. It also aligns with the more conciliatory climate ahead of the planned April 2026 US-China summit, using exports and financial terms to shape broader technology relations.
Monitored Intelligence for South Korea - Dec. 12, 2025
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Seoul official to urge U.S. to swiftly implement efforts allowing S. Korea to enrich uranium, reprocess spent fuel
Yonhap | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes
South Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina arrived in Washington on December 10, 2025, to urge the United States to swiftly implement an agreement enabling South Korea to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes. This request follows a prior agreement between the two countries, and Kim emphasized the need to start substantive discussions by assigning South Korea's counterpart in the process.
The upcoming 10th Senior Economic Dialogue (SED) between Kim and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg will focus on enhancing bilateral economic and industrial cooperation. Topics expected to be covered include shipbuilding, energy, cutting-edge technologies, critical minerals, and small modular reactors. However, the issue of South Korea's ambition to build nuclear-powered submarines will not be discussed during the SED, as it is considered a military matter slated for separate talks involving South Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac.
The backdrop to this diplomatic activity includes a November 13 joint fact sheet where the U.S. expressed support for South Korea's civil nuclear fuel cycle activities, marking a departure from previous restrictions under the bilateral nuclear energy pact. South Korea is seen as an important partner in the U.S.'s broader "nuclear energy renaissance," with cooperation anticipated to benefit both nations. After the SED, Kim will represent South Korea at the "Pax Silica" artificial intelligence summit later in the week.
Seoul official to urge U.S. to swiftly implement efforts allowing Korea to enrich uranium, reprocess spent fuel
Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes
Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina of South Korea arrived in Washington to urge the United States to swiftly implement an agreement allowing Korea to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes. This request comes ahead of the 10th Senior Economic Dialogue (SED) between the two countries, where bilateral economic and industrial cooperation will be discussed.
Kim emphasized that Korea is ready to begin substantive discussions and asked the U.S. to assign its counterpart to expedite the process. This follows a joint fact sheet released on November 13, 2025, in which the U.S. expressed support for South Korea's civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing efforts, which are currently prohibited under an existing bilateral nuclear pact.
During the SED, topics will include cooperation in shipbuilding, energy, cutting-edge technologies, and critical minerals. Kim also highlighted potential discussions on small modular reactors but stated that nuclear-powered submarines would not be part of the dialogue, as those are military issues expected to be addressed separately by South Korea’s National Security Adviser in an upcoming visit to Washington.
Kim will attend the SED before participating in the "Pax Silica" AI summit scheduled for December 13.
North's Kim delivers 'important conclusion' at party plenary meeting: KCNA
Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | North Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reached an "important conclusion" during the 13th plenary meeting of the Workers' Party of Korea's Eighth Central Committee, according to state media. The meeting, which began on December 9, 2025, is reviewing the implementation of this year's policies and preparing for the upcoming Ninth Party Congress, expected in January or February 2026.
Kim's conclusion addresses the review of major party and state policies, the Central Inspection Commission's work this year, and preparations for the Ninth Congress. The plenary also assessed major successes of 2025, identified problems requiring immediate resolution before the congress, and assigned key tasks related to the event's organization. Financial matters, including the implementation of the 2025 state budget and the drafting of the 2026 budget, were also discussed.
The Ninth Party Congress will be North Korea's first since 2021 and is anticipated to define the country's external policies toward the U.S. and South Korea, as well as its national economic direction for the next five years. The plenary meeting is expected to continue for several days.
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