The US and South Korea are crushing it in the tech security game, according to the White House. Progress has been made in securing critical technologies, and we’re here for it.

Exciting news! The United States and South Korea have made “historical progress” in deepening cooperation to secure critical technologies and address economic coercion. The White House announced this on Sunday, just as South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol prepared for his first state visit to the United States on Monday for talks with President Joe Biden. This visit will underscore their “ironclad alliance.”

The U.S. National Security Council told the Financial Times that this progress includes efforts to coordinate investments in the semiconductor sector, secure critical technologies, and address economic coercion. “We expect the upcoming state visit to even further strengthen cooperation on all these fronts,” it added.

According to a Financial Times report, Washington had requested South Korea to advise its chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, to hold back from boosting their sales to China if U.S. chipmaker Micron is banned from selling chips in Beijing. This request demonstrates the Biden administration’s goal to prevent China from using Micron “as a lever to influence or effect U.S. policy” and thwart China’s economic coercion efforts by cooperating with its allies.

The White House did not comment on the report but said the semiconductor sector was one area where the two countries had made progress in advancing their collaboration. The Epoch Times has reached out to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix for comment.

China Launches Probe Into Micron

China’s cybersecurity watchdog launched a cybersecurity review of Idaho-based Micron’s products sold in the country last month, citing the need to prevent “network security risks caused by hidden product problems” and “maintain national security.”

Micron said that its business continues to operate as normal in China while the company was cooperating with the investigation.

Advanced semiconductor chips are used to make everything from pickup trucks to hypersonic missiles. Currently, more than 60 percent of the world’s supply of chips is produced in Taiwan, many of them with the help of U.S. research and design.

The United States last year imposed sweeping restrictions on access to chipmaking technology to impede China’s technological and military advances. But Washington needs the cooperation of its allies and partners for its measures to be effective.

Japan Tightens Chipmaking Equipment Exports

Japan earlier imposed export restrictions on 23 semiconductor manufacturing equipment amid an ongoing tech spat between the United States and China. It’s clear that the race for technological dominance is heating up, and countries are taking measures to protect their interests.