Korean Media: No Agreement Yet with U.S. on Domestic Construction of Nuclear Submarines
¬ "Plan to Recommend Target Year for Transfer of Combat Command Authority to South Korean and U.S. Presidents by End of This Year"
On the 14th, according to South Korea's Defense Minister An Kui-baek, no final agreement has been reached with the United States regarding the South Korean government’s push to build nuclear-powered submarines (nuclear submarines) domestically. During an interview aired on KBS’ “Sunday Diagnosis,” when asked, “Has it been agreed with the U.S. that the nuclear submarine will be built domestically?” An Kui-baek responded, “No agreement has been reached yet.”
He stated, “Building nuclear submarines abroad is inefficient in terms of both cost and technology,” and added, “Our consistent position is that we should construct them with our own hands and technology domestically, and the U.S. is currently understanding this stance.”
Although President Donald Trump stated after the South Korea-U.S. summit meeting at the end of October 2025, “South Korea will build its nuclear submarines at the Philadelphia shipyard in the U.S.,” recent events such as the joint South Korea-U.S. follow-up consultations on security measures held in Seoul on the 2nd and 3rd seem to indicate a shift toward the “South Korea-built” plan. On the 9th, a foreign ministry official said during a press briefing: “Discussions have been conducted based on the understanding that the nuclear submarine will be built in South Korea, and the U.S. has not raised any objections.”
An Kui-baek also mentioned that they plan to determine the target year for the transfer of wartime combat command authority (combat command) around the end of this year and propose it to both presidents. At the upcoming South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) scheduled for around November, after jointly verifying the second phase of the three-phase assessment of South Korea’s military wartime operational capability—specifically full operational capability (FOC)—with the U.S. Secretary of Defense, “the target year for resuming combat command, referred to as ‘X-year,’ will be decided.”
Regarding the existing differences between South Korea and the U.S. on the timing of combat command transfer, An Kui-baek said: “Even within families or among spouses who share the same parents, opinions differ; how could nations possibly agree completely on issues related to combat command?” He further emphasized, “I can confidently say that even if combat command were transferred immediately, there would be no problem whatsoever.” As for the timing of the transfer, South Korea considers the earliest possible date to be “2027,” while the U.S. military presence in South Korea believes the target date for meeting the transfer conditions is “Q1 2029.”
Source: Chosun Ilbo
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868064088540227/
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