South Korean President Clarifies Stance on Alaska LNG Project After Trump Announcement

South Korea's president has clarified the status of a proposed Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline project, stating that no definitive investment decisions have been made. This comes after President Trump announced a $54 billion South Korean investment that included the pipeline.

South Korea's Ministry of Interior issued a statement asserting that "no decision has been made on whether to invest or on the size of the investment." While not disputing Seoul's interest in the 807-mile pipeline designed to transport natural gas from Alaska's North Slope to Asian markets, the ministry indicated that several conditions must still be met.

President Lee Jae Myung elaborated on these conditions via a post on X, stating that the Alaska LNG project "will proceed to working level under the preconditions that 1) its commercial viability is confirmed and 2) it complies with the legal procedures of the Republic of Korea."

Earlier, President Trump had announced the South Korean funding would support the construction of eight large-scale nuclear power plants, a six-gigawatt power generation facility in Texas, and the Alaska pipeline. The White House characterized the announcement as part of a broader $350 billion in U.S. investments pledged by Seoul as part of a trade deal agreed upon in July 2025.

South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung Kwan also voiced his objection to the U.S. announcement. He told reporters that "putting out figures, or using definitive language, goes far beyond what was agreed," adding that he had communicated his concerns to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers responded to the South Korean statements by reiterating the significance of the announcement. "Yesterday’s joint announcement was historic for the great state of Alaska, the United States, and the Republic of Korea," Rogers said. She added that "the President and Alaskans look forward to the construction and completion of this long-anticipated project that will create 12,000 construction jobs and 1,300 permanent operation jobs in the state, generate $25 billion in state and local revenue, and provide $10 billion in Alaska energy savings."

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President Trump had promoted the project as a "gigantic win for the people of Alaska" expected to create up to 12,000 construction jobs. He also stated that a portion of the funds South Korea paid to secure reduced tariffs was allocated to this project.

Experts estimate that the pipeline project, once construction commences, will take at least five years to become operational. The announcement of the project and related investments came amidst a series of economic and jobs-related initiatives the White House intended to unveil ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.