Trump Says South Korea and Japan Will Buy Alaska Oil, Build Pipelines
The announcement, made during a midterm election season press event, signals that Alaska energy infrastructure has become a focal point of U.S. Bilateral trade negotiations with Asian allies.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that South Korea, Japan, and other countries are traveling to Alaska to purchase oil and construct pipelines, according to The Korea Times. Trump made the remarks during a press availability at the White House on September 3, 2026.
Trump's comments came as he highlighted his support for Alaska ahead of the November midterm elections. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), who faces reelection in November, was specifically mentioned by the president during the remarks, according to The Korea Times.
The statement connects ongoing U.S. Trade discussions with both Seoul and Tokyo to domestic energy production in Alaska. The president framed the arrangement as a benefit to the state, though the White House had not, as of the time of reporting, released a formal agreement or memorandum of understanding with either South Korea or Japan detailing specific pipeline construction commitments or purchase volumes.
South Korea is among the world's largest importers of liquefied natural gas. According to data from the Korea Energy Economics Institute, South Korea imported approximately 46 million metric tons of LNG in 2024, making it the third-largest LNG importer globally. The United States has been a growing supplier to South Korea since the opening of the Sabine Pass LNG export terminal in Louisiana in 2016.
Japan is the world's largest LNG importer by volume. Japan's trade ministry has maintained a policy of diversifying energy sources since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident prompted a near-total shutdown of the country's nuclear fleet. U.S. LNG exports to Japan have increased steadily since 2017, when the first long-term contracts between Japanese utilities and U.S. Exporters took effect.
Alaska holds significant proven natural gas reserves. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources estimates the state's North Slope alone holds more than 35 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves. A major obstacle to monetizing those reserves has been the absence of a pipeline connecting them to an export terminal on Alaska's southern coast, a project that has been discussed for decades without reaching a final investment decision.
The proposed Alaska LNG Project, overseen by the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, a state-owned entity, envisions an 800-mile pipeline from the North Slope to a liquefaction facility near Nikiski on the Kenai Peninsula. The project has an estimated cost of approximately 39 billion dollars, according to the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation's most recent public filings. No private lead developer has committed to the project as of the date of this report.
Whether Trump's remarks reflect active negotiations or informal discussions with South Korean and Japanese officials is not established in the available public record. Confirmation of binding commitments would require formal announcements from the governments of South Korea and Japan, or filings with relevant regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Department of Energy, which must authorize LNG export contracts.
The timing of the remarks, made in the presence of a senator facing a competitive midterm race, introduces a political dimension. Senator Sullivan has been a consistent advocate for Alaska energy development and has publicly supported the Alaska LNG Project in Senate testimony. His electoral position would benefit from the perception of federal momentum on the project.
No official statement from the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy or Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry had been released in response to Trump's remarks as of the time of publication. The specifics of what pipeline construction role either country would play, and under what financing or regulatory framework, remain publicly undisclosed.