Gov. Burgum continues trade mission in South Korea

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (KVRR) – Governor Doug Burgum has been in South Korea this week, leading a trade and investment mission aiming to increase cooperation between the country and North Dakota on energy and economic development.

On Monday, Burgum signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean Institute of Energy Research promoting the development of renewable energy and carbon capture.

Burgum says that building trade relationships like these with allied nations are especially important, especially after South Korea says North Korea destroyed parts of their roads amid rising tensions between the two nations. 

“As a country we’ve got to make sure we’re in a position to build out infrastructure to sell energy to our friends and allies so they can stop buying it from our adversaries. Because we know that energy policy is tied to national security, it’s tied to our economy, it’s tied to everything.”

During his visit, Burgum was also able to lay a wreath at the Korean War Memorial to honor those North Dakotans who served, including the 188 that lost their lives.