Planning stopped for the new reactor, which would have probably cost $9 billion or more.
No new reactors have been proposed in the last decade.
Only a few new reactors will enter service by 2020.
Does this study consider new reactors that may be built?
The new reactors are expected to take a minimum of 10 years to complete.
South Korea plans to build 12 new nuclear reactors by 2022.
If the nuclear companies paid all their development costs, he said, they would build no new reactors.
Earlier this month, the North's state media reported that "the day is near at hand" when its new reactor will come into operation.
Some defense officials and the nuclear industry have argued for building a new reactor.
No decision has yet been made on what technology the new reactors will use.