The U.S. government’s move to put South Korea -- a non-nuclear ally--in the same company as countries like China or North Korea has unsettled politicians in Seoul

The U.S. Department of Energy has designated ally South Korea a "sensitive" country, a spokesperson said on Friday, after the South Korean president briefly imposed martial law and amid talk of Seoul potentially developing nuclear weapons.

South Korea's acting president urged ministries on Monday to work with the U.S. to avoid any negative impact on science, technology and energy cooperation after the U.S. Department of Energy designated South Korea a 'sensitive' country.