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Seoul and Washington have reached a historic agreement allowing South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines. As part of a wider trade and security deal, the U.S. has given its approval in principle, and both countries plan to collaborate on shipbuilding, nuclear energy, and expanded defense cooperation.
What was agreed
Under the new deal, South Korea gains U.S. consent to construct nuclear-powered submarines. At the same time, the agreement expands Seoul’s rights to handle uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing within limits set by existing civil nuclear cooperation rules. The deal is part of a larger trade and investment package. South Korea is pledging large investments in U.S. industry, including shipbuilding, in return for lowered tariffs.
Speaking at a news conference with foreign media at Cheong Wa Dae last week, President Lee Jae Myung emphasized that South Korea’s acquisition of nuclear submarines and nuclear fuel reprocessing would not violate the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Asked by ABC News whether he is aware of nuclear proliferation concerns in Washington, Lee said “nuclear nonproliferation is an international principle we must respect,” stressing that the treaty restricts the spread of nuclear weapons but not all nuclear technologies.
Why it matters
For decades, South Korea operated only diesel-electric submarines. These vessels must surface or snorkel periodically, limiting underwater endurance. Nuclear-powered submarines, by contrast, can stay submerged far longer, increasing stealth, range, and strategic flexibility.
Seoul regards this as a decades-long goal and a strategic asset for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Analysts also suggest that stronger submarine capabilities could help deter threats from the north and strengthen South Korea’s maritime defense.
Significant challenges remain
Despite the approval, major technical, legal, and practical hurdles remain. The deal does not yet specify where the submarines will be built, whether in the U.S. or South Korea. The question of nuclear fuel supply and technology transfer is delicate.
To operate a nuclear submarine safely and legally, enriched uranium and reactor management technology are needed. This requires strict compliance with international nuclear safeguards agreements. Under a long-standing civil nuclear agreement between the two countries, South Korea is restricted in how it can use nuclear material. Expanding those rights to military-adjacent uses may require further negotiations and legal adjustments.
Because of these uncertainties, some experts argue the ambitious submarine program will be a long-term project rather than providing immediate capability.
Responding to former President Trump’s suggestion that South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarines should be built in U.S. shipyards, Lee said it would be far from realistic.
“We have no intention of deviating from the basic agreement between the two Koreas,” Lee said. He added that pursuing nuclear weapons at the cost of economic and international sanctions would be a foolish act.
Which countries already operate nuclear-powered submarines
A small group of nations currently possess nuclear-powered submarines: the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, and India. Brazil is developing one but has not yet deployed it. South Korea’s entry into this group would significantly shift the naval balance in the Indo-Pacific, where advanced underwater capabilities are increasingly central to strategic competition.
Regional reaction and potential consequences
The agreement has attracted considerable attention across the region. Some neighbors and observers warn it could fuel an underwater arms race in East Asia, prompting other countries to reconsider their submarine or defense policies.
Proponents in Seoul, however, say that nuclear-powered submarines are not about aggression but about self-defense and deterrence, strengthening South Korea’s ability to protect its waters and respond to threats.
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Asia Media Centre
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