In an unexpected twist in international lab safety, the U.S. Department of Energy has placed South Korea on a sensitive watchlist after reports of mishandled sensitive information at its labs. Acting Ambassador Joseph Yun explained that over 2,000 South Korean students, researchers, and government officials visited U.S. labs last year, and some incidents arose from such heavy traffic.
The designation, which ranks South Korea in the lowest tier of the list, has stirred debate in Seoul, especially since local officials stated they were not informed by Washington. Despite the controversy, Yun remarked, "It is not a big deal," emphasizing that the issue is limited to the department’s facilities and does not affect broader cooperation between the allies.
This incident highlights the challenge of balancing open scientific collaboration with data security protocols. While the U.S. confirmed designating South Korea as a sensitive country earlier in January, details about the sensitive data mishandling remain sparse. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story! 🤔
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U.S. official links S. Korea's watchlist status to lab data misstep
cgtn.com
