WASHINGTON — The proposed Alaska liquefied natural gas pipeline is facing fresh uncertainty after South Korean officials emphasized that key conditions still need to be satisfied, just one day after President Trump announced a $54 billion investment from Seoul.
South Korea’s interior ministry said no final decision had been reached on either whether to invest or how much money would be committed. The statement did not rule out interest in the planned 807-mile pipeline, which is designed to carry natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope to markets across Asia.
Trump said South Korea’s funding would support the construction of eight major nuclear power plants, a 6-gigawatt power-generation facility in Texas and the Alaska gas pipeline. At an event attended by Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, the president described the project as a “huge” deal for the state.
The White House said the investment was included in the $350 billion in US projects Seoul pledged as part of a trade agreement reached in July 2025.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, however, said the Alaska LNG project remains subject to several requirements.
“Among the US investment projects announced by the United States, 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,” Lee wrote on X.
Industry Minister Kim Jung Kwan also pushed back against the US description of the investment.
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“Putting out figures, or using definitive language, goes far beyond what was agreed,” Kim told reporters. He said he had contacted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to convey his concerns.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers did not directly address the South Korean reservations, instead calling the previous day’s announcement “historic for the great state of Alaska, the United States, and the Republic of Korea.”
“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.”
The announcement came as the White House prepared a series of manufacturing and employment initiatives ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election, part of an effort to bolster Republican candidates.
Sullivan, who is facing a difficult reelection contest against former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, has strongly backed the Alaska pipeline. His Senate seat is viewed as important to Republicans’ effort to preserve control of the chamber after Trump carried Alaska by double digits in the 2024 election.
Trump promoted the proposal Wednesday as “a gigantic win for the people of Alaska,” claiming it could create as many as 12,000 construction jobs immediately.
“In our trade agreement with South Korea, they have to invest hundreds of billions of dollars, and for doing that, I reduced their tariffs to 15%. But they paid to get them reduced, and part of that money is going into this project,” the president said.
Energy experts estimate that the Alaska LNG project would require at least five years to begin operations after construction gets underway.
