The United States and South Korea have agreed to move forward with the construction of nuclear-powered submarines, under a broader trade and security partnership between the two nations.
As part of the agreement, South Korea will invest $150 billion in US shipbuilding, while also collaborating in artificial intelligence and nuclear industries. President Lee Jae-myung confirmed that the deal authorizes South Korea to produce nuclear-powered attack submarines. In addition, Seoul may engage in uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, further strengthening its strategic capabilities.
A White House fact sheet highlighted that the partnership also includes a working group to coordinate shipbuilding, aimed at increasing both commercial and military-ready US vessels. Yonhap reports that South Korea plans to build at least four nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s, each equipped with conventional 5,000-ton armaments.
Analysts say the deal will provide a major boost to South Korea’s naval and defense technology, placing it among a select group of nations with advanced submarine capabilities.
However, China has voiced concerns, warning that the initiative may affect regional stability on the Korean Peninsula and broader Asia-Pacific security. North Korea has not yet commented.
The agreement also follows Washington’s tariff reduction on Korean goods from 25% to 15%, supporting increased bilateral trade alongside the security collaboration.
Source: Al Jazeera.