South Korea plans to construct its upcoming fleet of nuclear-powered submarines at home, according to the defense minister, with the country aiming to launch its first boat by the mid-2030s.
The program is intended to reinforce South Korea’s deterrence posture against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, while also making Seoul one of the few countries to field nuclear-powered submarines following US authorization for restricted nuclear fuel support.
South Korea has long viewed nuclear-powered submarines as a critical capability for countering Pyongyang’s growing military strength, although earlier efforts were restricted under a bilateral nuclear agreement with Washington.
Officials in Seoul revealed last November that the United States had approved the submarine effort as part of a wider security and trade deal, which also granted permission for uranium enrichment and the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.
Questions had persisted over where the submarines would ultimately be built, especially after Donald Trump claimed the vessels would be constructed in the United States. Seoul has now clarified that domestic shipyards will handle production.
The South Korean government said it would continue to meet international nuclear non-proliferation requirements throughout the procurement and management of low-enriched uranium needed for the submarines.
American nuclear submarine technology is regarded as one of the most tightly safeguarded defense technologies in the world, with highly restricted access and transfer policies.
