Officials in South Korea on Wednesday minimised the significance of a Czech court's decision to halt an $18 billion project for South Korea to construct two nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic, characterising it as a transient impediment and articulating their certainty that the agreement will ultimately move forward.

A South Korean consortium, spearheaded by the state-owned Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, had anticipated concluding the agreement this week with a subsidiary of CEZ, the Czech Republic's principal electricity provider. Nevertheless, a Czech court precluded CEZ from executing the contract while it examines a grievance lodged by French company EDF, which was unsuccessful in the bidding against the South Koreans.

In Prague, South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Dukgeun told reporters that the court's decision would only delay the signing of the official contract. He said that all other steps would happen on time, if the deal is completed. He also mentioned that the Czech government clearly did not expect the court to stop the agreement, and that CEZ plans to challenge the decision.

The timeframe for a ruling from the Czech Supreme Administrative Court on that appeal remains uncertain.

According to Ahn, the Czech government did not consider EDF's claims to be a significant issue and proceeded to invite them to the planned signing ceremony. It appears the Czech government's assessment was inconsistent with the court's decision.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated on Wednesday that his administration acknowledges the court's verdict, subsequently adding: "I am confident that the judges and the court comprehend the significance of this ruling and its ramifications for the security of the Czech Republic and our national interests."

South Korea's acting president, Lee Ju-Ho, stated that Seoul would maintain close communication with the Czech Republic to facilitate the prompt finalization of the agreement.

In July, CEZ chose KHNP over EDF as the favoured candidate to construct two 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactors at the Dukovany plant. EDF lodged a court challenge last week after the Czech Republic's competition watchdog dismissed its appeal regarding the bidding procedure.

Before his removal from office last month, following an unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law in December, the former conservative South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, had committed to increasing the nation's nuclear power exports. He contended that these exports had diminished during the preceding liberal administration's efforts to decrease domestic dependence on nuclear energy. Yoon's government had established a target of exporting ten nuclear power reactors by 2030.