Reuters: South Korea Starts Building Nuclear Submarines

• 5.12.2025, 14:19

After Trump's "endorsement".

South Korea is sharply accelerating plans to build nuclear-powered submarines after getting U.S. President Donald Trump's approval, Reuters reports.

Seoul has been moving toward having nuclear-powered submarines in its arsenal for years, the publication noted. Trump's approval was a key breakthrough on access to nuclear fuel under the interstate agreement, said retired Navy Col. Moon Gin-woo.

Analysts note that such an effort by South Korea could trigger a negative reaction from China, as well as push Japan to develop nuclear-powered submarines.

Seoul notes that a nuclear engine is a critical element for tracking North Korean underwater threats, particularly SLBM launches. President Lee Jae-men called the agreement with the US an important breakthrough that strengthens the country's defense autonomy.

North Korea claims to be developing its own nuclear-powered submarines, and state media have already shown a submarine that was presented as nuclear-powered. Analysts speculate that Pyongyang may be receiving technical assistance from Russia - something Seoul is watching closely.

South Korea has been working on the project for years and is estimated to be able to build the first nuclear submarine within about 10 years. Washington has already agreed to help provide nuclear fuel, an important element that has so far been lacking.

North Korea fired about 10 missiles from MLRS on Nov. 4 during a visit by the U.S. and South Korean defense ministers - Pete Hegseth and An Gyu-baku - to the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.