Nuclear power will remain part of South Korea’s energy mix while the government works to rapidly reduce coal, oil and natural gas as part of its efforts to tackle climate change, environment minister Kim Sung-whan said.

Kim said in a press briefing that a complete nuclear phaseout under the new ministry would “not be pursued”.

He said: “Given that we have been operating reactors for decades, have accumulated expertise and are still in a situation where the share of renewables is extremely low, the reactors we currently operate must be appropriately mixed into our energy portfolio.”