【Text by Observers Network, Chen Sijia】On the afternoon of November 14, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stated that South Korea and the United States have finalized the "Joint Situation Statement" on tariff and security consultation outcomes, and both sides agreed to advance the construction of nuclear submarines in South Korea.
This move is seen as part of the U.S. so-called "containment of China" strategy, and senior U.S. naval officials have not concealed this intention. According to a report from Bloomberg on the 16th, U.S. Navy Chief of Operations Daryl Caudle said on the 14th that the U.S. hopes the nuclear submarines built by South Korea can be used to "counter the Chinese navy," which is the "responsibility that key allies should bear."
Several hours after the release of the "Joint Situation Statement" between South Korea and the U.S., Caudle delivered a speech in Seoul, South Korea. He claimed: "I think using nuclear submarines to counter China is a natural choice. I believe South Korea also has a responsibility to deploy these submarines globally, transforming from a regional navy to a global one."
The "Chosun Ilbo" reported that he also quoted a line from the 2002 movie "Spider-Man": "With great power comes great responsibility."
He called China the "main competitive threat" facing them, stating, "The U.S. expects cooperation with its allies to achieve common goals related to this main competitive threat." He claimed that if a conflict arises between major powers, it would lead to "a near-total mobilization situation," adding, "I cannot specify what measures will be taken, but it is certain that U.S. forces stationed in South Korea will play a certain role."
Regarding South Korea's hope to use nuclear submarines for "deterrence against North Korea," Caudle stated that North Korea's naval forces are still considered a "regional threat" by the U.S., but have not yet posed a direct threat to the U.S. He believed that although North Korea is developing submarine-launched ballistic missile technology, it is still "a long way away from forming a credible combat capability."
Caudle said that the U.S. agrees to help South Korea build nuclear submarines, calling it a "historic moment" for both countries. However, he admitted that this process "will not happen quickly."
In addition, Caudle visited shipyards of South Korean shipbuilding companies such as HD Hyundai and Hanwha Ocean on the same day. Regarding the possibility of building ships for the U.S. Navy in South Korea, Caudle said that it involves complex legal issues, but he supports further review of the topic, stating, "The U.S. is looking for ways to strengthen shipbuilding capabilities, and I believe South Korea will play an important role. South Korea can not only invest in the U.S., but also build ships for the U.S. domestically."
The U.S. "Burns-Toliver Amendment" stipulates that all U.S. ships and their major components must not be manufactured by foreign shipyards. However, due to the recent downturn in the U.S. shipbuilding industry, some U.S. individuals have proposed that to strengthen the U.S. navy, the U.S. should cooperate with South Korea, which has strong shipbuilding capabilities, to create conditions for building U.S. warships in South Korea.
Photo: Daryl Caudle, U.S. Navy
On the afternoon of October 29, U.S. President Trump met with Yoon Suk-yeol in Gyeongju, South Korea. During the meeting, Yoon requested the U.S. to provide nuclear fuel needed for nuclear-powered submarines to enhance the operational capabilities of South Korean submarines. He claimed that diesel-electric submarines have limited underwater endurance, thus "there are limitations in tracking Chinese or North Korean submarines."
On October 30, Trump posted on social media that the U.S. would share nuclear propulsion technology with South Korea to help the South Korean navy build at least one nuclear-powered submarine. He stated, "South Korea will build its nuclear-powered submarine, right here in the U.S.A.! Our shipbuilding industry is about to experience a strong recovery. Stay tuned!"
On the afternoon of November 14, South Korea and the United States finalized the "Joint Situation Statement" on tariff and security consultation outcomes, and both sides agreed to advance the construction of nuclear submarines in South Korea. However, unlike Trump's previous statement that "submarines would be built in the U.S.", South Korea stated that the two countries had discussed the matter with the premise of "building nuclear submarines in South Korea."
The content of the document shows that the U.S. has officially approved South Korea's plan to build a nuclear submarine and expressed support for South Korea's efforts to seek uranium enrichment and nuclear waste reprocessing capabilities. The head of the National Security Office, Wi Seung-lak, said that the leaders of the two countries have always discussed the matter with the premise of "building nuclear submarines in South Korea", without mentioning the option of building them in the U.S.
However, sources informed Bloomberg that there are still differences between the two sides on the location of construction, the type of nuclear submarine, and whether the U.S. should obtain the vessel through an agreement for free. Even if both sides reach an agreement, it would take many years to build a single nuclear submarine. To obtain nuclear fuel, the two countries also need to revise the "U.S.-South Korea Atomic Energy Agreement," which may face legal and policy obstacles.
The current "U.S.-South Korea Atomic Energy Agreement" is valid until 2035, stipulating that South Korea must obtain U.S. approval to conduct uranium enrichment with a concentration below 20%, and cannot perform spent fuel reprocessing. South Korea has long sought to revise the agreement to gain the right to enrich uranium and recycle nuclear waste, thereby addressing energy security concerns and the increasing problem of nuclear waste inventory.
Additionally, South Korea decided to provide a $3.3 billion package of subsidies to U.S. forces stationed in South Korea, and continue to strengthen cooperation at the alliance level to push forward the transfer of wartime operational command authority. South Korea and the U.S. also agreed to enhance the conventional deterrence posture of the U.S. against all regional threats faced by both sides. The Korean Central News Agency pointed out that this wording highlights the U.S. call for South Korea to contribute to "containing China."
The Yoon administration is trying to improve relations with China, and South Korean scholars worry that at this time, South Korea building nuclear submarines with U.S. assistance could disrupt Sino-South Korean relations. Professor Ju Jae-woo from Kyung Hee University previously warned that the balance South Korea maintains between China and the U.S. is very fragile, and "South Korea's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines may further escalate tensions with China."
Regarding South Korea's request to build a nuclear submarine, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiancong stated on October 30 that China has noticed the relevant situation. China hopes that both sides will fulfill their nuclear non-proliferation obligations and do things that promote regional peace and stability, rather than the opposite.
According to the website of the Chinese Embassy in South Korea, on November 13, Ambassador Dai Bing held a座谈 with more than 30 mainstream Chinese and South Korean media journalists, exchanging views on issues of concern to Chinese and South Korean journalists.
Korean Central News Agency reported that Dai Bing stated that China has expressed concern over the U.S. and South Korea's promotion of nuclear submarine cooperation, and hopes that South Korea will handle the matter carefully. China and South Korea are communicating through diplomatic channels on the issue of nuclear submarines, and China has expressed its concerns to South Korea on the relevant issue.
Dai Bing pointed out that the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region remains complex and sensitive, and the U.S. and South Korea's nuclear submarine cooperation goes beyond commercial cooperation, and is related to the global nuclear non-proliferation system and the stability of the Korean Peninsula and the region. He hopes that South Korea will fully consider the concerns of all parties and handle the matter carefully.
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Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7573280869893374507/
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