Korea has signed a “legitimate” deal to build nuclear power units in the Czech Republic, the industry minister reaffirmed Monday, amid criticism over the intellectual property settlement deal made between the state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) and U.S. energy firm Westinghouse.

“We know there is criticism over the Czech deal, but we have said before it is a legitimate contract,” Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan told lawmakers at the annual parliamentary audit of government organizations.

“With the deal, we have secured a foothold in the European nuclear power market, and once the new Czech government sets sail, we plan to hold negotiations for building two additional nuclear reactors in the country,” Kim explained.

“In that regard, I believe it was a valuable and meaningful agreement.”

In January, the KHNP and Westinghouse signed the settlement after the latter accused the Korean firm of infringing on its intellectual property, claiming the KHNP’s APR 1000 and APR1400 plant designs utilize its licensed technology.

The deal had removed a major hurdle for a KHNP-led Korean consortium to sign a final contract in June for an estimated 26 trillion-won ($18.2 billion) deal to build two nuclear power units in the Czech Republic.

But the settlement deal with Westinghouse came under scrutiny after media reports suggested that it may prohibit the KHNP from bidding for new nuclear power plant projects in North America and the European Union, excluding the Czech Republic.

The 50-year deal is also said to include provisions requiring the KHNP to sign a goods and services purchase contract worth about $650 million with Westinghouse per export of a single nuclear reactor, and to pay $175 million per reactor in technology licensing fees.

“It is true that there have been various controversies related to Westinghouse, but I believe that the history of our exports has always been about persevering despite such limitations,” Kim said.

“I hope this could be viewed from the broader and long-term perspective of our national interest as the deal is a matter concerning trust between Korea and the United States, as well as the nuclear cooperation agreement between the two countries,” he added.