U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol jointly tour a Samsung Electronics chip plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, during Biden's visit to Korea, May 20, 2022. Yonhap

The United States said Thursday that it is seeking new export controls on quantum computing, advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment and other technologies, in what it called a national security measure that observers said would have limited ramifications on Korean firms.

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security released an interim final rule on the export controls as the U.S. has been working in tandem with allies and partners to tighten such controls on critical technologies amid its intensifying rivalry with China over security and technological leadership.

The rule establishes new "License Exception Implemented Export Controls" under which countries — implementing national export controls equivalent to those of the U.S. — would not need to submit license applications for items subject to the latest controls.

Korea is not included on the list of countries entitled to the license exception, but is categorized as part of the country groups to which license applications will be reviewed with a "presumption of approval."

China and some other countries are listed in country groups, for which license applications will be reviewed with a "presumption of denial."

"Today's action ensures our national export controls keep step with rapidly evolving technologies and are more effective when we work in concert with international partners," said Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez was quoted as saying in a press release.

"Aligning our controls on quantum and other advanced technologies makes it significantly more difficult for our adversaries to develop and deploy these technologies in ways that threaten our collective security."

The latest controls target quantum computers, related equipment, components, materials, software and technology that can be used in the development and maintenance of quantum computers, according to the department.

The controls also cover tools and machines that are essential for the production of advanced semiconductor devices, as well as technology that produces or develops high-performance computing chips that can be used in supercomputers. (Yonhap)