Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan reaffirmed Tuesday that Korea would participate in the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project only if it proves to be commercially viable, saying the government has just begun reviewing the proposal. He added, however, that while poor economics had long held the project back, the Middle East war had strengthened its strategic importance. “There is no question that weak commercial reasonableness kept the project from moving forward. But the Middle East war has created new strategic value,” Kim told lawmakers during a parliamentary audit. “If the project succeeds and Korea can secure LNG from Alaska, there would clearly be strategic benefits.” He made the comments in response to a question from Rep. Choi Soo-jin of the main opposition People Power Party. Choi accused Washington of presenting a large Korean investment as a foregone conclusion despite the project having stalled for four decades because of poor economic viability. She pointed to language in a joint fact sheet stating that work would begin on the project. “With economic viability an