SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean officialdom on Wednesday sought to temper the significance of a Czech court's interdiction of a projected $18 billion South Korean initiative to construct two nuclear reactors within their jurisdiction, characterising the development as a transient impediment whilst maintaining an air of certitude that the transaction will ultimately attain fruition.

The South Korean consortium, spearheaded by the state-owned Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, had anticipated the finalisation of the agreement this week with a CEZ subsidiary, the Czech Republic's foremost electricity provider; nevertheless, a Czech court has enjoined CEZ from executing the contract pending its adjudication of a grievance lodged by the French firm EDF, which was unsuccessful in its bid against the South Korean entity.

In comments delivered to journalists in Prague, South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Dukgeun posited that the court's ruling would merely protract the finalisation of the definitive agreement, while all other concomitant processes would remain on their projected timeline, contingent upon the ultimate successful execution of the transaction. He further stated that the Czech government had evidently not foreseen the court's intervention to temporarily suspend the accord, and that CEZ intends to pursue an appeal against the judgement.

The precise juncture at which the Czech Supreme Administrative Court might render a judgment on that appeal remains shrouded in uncertainty.

“The Czech government seemingly accorded no undue significance to EDF’s contentions and extended an invitation for the prearranged signing ceremony,” Ahn posited, adding, “It appears the Czech government’s assessment diverged from the court’s determination.”

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala affirmed his government's deference to the court's pronouncement on Wednesday, subsequently articulating: "I am persuaded that the judiciary, in its collective wisdom, apprehends the profound significance of this determination and its ramifications for the Czech Republic's security and our fundamental national interests."

Lee Ju-Ho, serving as South Korea's acting president, articulated Seoul's commitment to maintaining close liaison with the Czech contingent, aiming to expedite the conclusive finalisation of the accord.

In July, CEZ designated KHNP as its favoured bidder for the construction of two 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactors at the Dukovany facility, bypassing EDF, which subsequently lodged a judicial challenge following the Czech Republic's competition authority's dismissal of its grievance concerning the tendering procedure.

Prior to his removal from office last month, a consequence of a misguided December imposition of martial law, the erstwhile conservative South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, had committed to amplifying the nation's nuclear power exports, contending that they had languished under the preceding liberal administration's endeavour to diminish domestic dependence on nuclear energy. The Yoon government had established an objective of effectuating the exportation of ten nuclear power reactors by 2030.