South Korea plans to build its own nuclear-powered submarine, which may be launched in the mid-2030s.

Korea's Ministry of Defense: Self-developed nuclear-powered submarine may be launched in the mid to late 2030s

Last week, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol met with U.S. President Trump and announced that South Korea intends to build a nuclear-powered submarine and requested the U.S. to provide fuel required for nuclear-powered submarines. Trump stated that he has approved South Korea's construction of a nuclear-powered submarine and that the U.S. will share nuclear propulsion technology with South Korea to help the South Korean Navy build at least one nuclear-powered submarine.

According to a report by Yonhap News Agency on November 4, a South Korean Defense Ministry official estimated that if South Korea can obtain nuclear fuel through consultations with the United States, its first self-developed nuclear-powered submarine could be launched in the mid to late 2030s.

At a cabinet meeting held by Yoon Suk-yeol on the 4th, Kim Jong-dae, Director of the Resource Management Division of the South Korean Defense Ministry, reported that fuel supply is the biggest challenge in building a nuclear-powered submarine, and progress has been made in consultations with the United States on fuel supply, creating conditions to advance the project.

Kim Jong-dae said, "South Korea is working on mastering key technologies required to build a nuclear-powered submarine, including nuclear submarine reactors and weapon systems, and conducting safety verification work. In terms of conventional submarines, South Korea already has world-class design and construction capabilities. Considering the technology we have mastered so far and national strength, we have the capability to independently build a nuclear-powered submarine."

He estimated that if South Korea can obtain nuclear fuel through consultations with the United States and enter the construction phase in the late 2020s, South Korea's first nuclear-powered submarine could be launched in the mid to late 2030s.

Kim Jong-dae also added that the South Korean and American foreign and defense departments will establish a working coordination mechanism to conduct specific consultations on South Korea's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarine fuel.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847862352513216/

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