South Korea, Kazakhstan Sign Nuclear Energy Pact, Eye Critical Minerals Cooperation

Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev agreed to deepen economic ties, signing a nuclear energy pact and discussing critical minerals cooperation ahead of the first South Korea-Central Asia summit. This marks a strategic pivot by Seoul to diversify energy and supply-chain partners in Central Asia, potentially reducing reliance on traditional sources. The pact's specifics and implementation timeline remain unclear, but the summit signals a broader regional engagement initiative.