Seoul, Aug. 18 -- South Korea's Industry Ministry has denied that semiconductors are being considered as the first project under Seoul's investment commitments in the United States, as Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan holds talks in Washington over the investment package and related tariff issues, The Korea Herald reported.

"It is not true that semiconductors are being discussed as a candidate for the first strategic investment project in the US," the ministry said in a statement, according to the report.

The denial followed a local newspaper report that South Korea had initially considered an energy project but shifted its position after Washington strongly requested investment in US memory chip production facilities.

The ministry conf...