South Korea, US Weigh $120 Billion Nuclear Deal to Power AI

Surging electricity demand from artificial-intelligence data centers is turning nuclear power into a strategic priority for South Korea and the United States. The two countries are discussing broader atomic-energy cooperation to provide dependable, low-carbon baseload power for AI infrastructure. Seoul is also using energy investment as leverage in tariff negotiations, linking industrial policy and power security to its effort to secure more favorable US trade terms.

The proposed package calls for eight nuclear reactors with a total value of as much as $120 billion, with an agreement or showdown possible as early as Sept. 18. South Korea has separately announced $100 billion of US energy investment aimed at supplying electricity for AI. The final structure remains under negotiation and depends on whether the reactor plan, Seoul’s US investment commitments and a broader tariff accord can be concluded together.