South Korea plans to build its first nuclear-powered submarine domestically within ten years
South Korea announced on Tuesday, May 26, that it intends to construct its first nuclear-powered submarine domestically and launch it in the mid-2030s. The move aims to strengthen deterrence against nuclear-armed neighboring North Korea. For Seoul, developing a nuclear submarine would mark a major leap forward for its shipbuilding and defense industries, and also place South Korea among the exclusive group of nations possessing such submarines. Currently, countries with nuclear-powered submarines include the United States, Australia, China, Russia, India, France, and the United Kingdom.
Last November, South Korea and the United States reached an agreement on building such submarines, although the construction location had not yet been determined at that time.
On Tuesday, South Korea’s Defense Minister An Gwi-bok further clarified the timeline and emphasized that all research, development, and construction work will be carried out domestically. An stated: "We will rely on our own technology to develop and build nuclear-powered submarines within our national territory, with the goal of launching the first submarine by the mid-2030s and putting it into formal service by the latter half of the 2030s."
President Trump previously remarked on the social media platform X last November, after approving South Korea’s ally’s right to build a nuclear-powered submarine, that the vessel would be built in Philadelphia, "our great America." However, Seoul immediately responded that "from the very beginning to the final discussions, both leaders assumed the submarine would be constructed in South Korea," and considered the issue "already resolved." Unlike diesel-powered submarines, which must surface regularly to recharge batteries—increasing their risk of detection—nuclear-powered submarines can remain submerged for much longer periods.
South Korea has long sought nuclear-powered submarines to counter the escalating military threats from North Korea. However, under the existing South Korea-U.S. nuclear cooperation agreement, such projects required prior approval from Washington.
Although South Korea possesses nuclear reactors, the agreement prohibits it from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel or enriching uranium for military purposes.
On Tuesday, Minister An reiterated that South Korea will "strictly fulfill" its obligations regarding nuclear non-proliferation and reaffirmed that Seoul "has no nuclear weapons whatsoever and has no intention of developing them."
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stated that the nuclear-powered submarine "symbolizes our determination to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining peace and security on the Korean Peninsula."
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866242562487308/
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