Jangbogo-N Nuclear-Powered Submarine Project

planned

The Ministry of National Defense of South Korea is pursuing the development of a nuclear-powered submarine project named 'Jangbogo-N,' aiming to launch the first vessel in the mid-2030s and operationalize it in the late 2030s. The project plans to use low-enriched uranium (LEU) as fuel, but face-to-face working-level consultations with the U.S. for securing the fuel have not yet occurred. The government intends to develop and construct the submarines domestically, although explicit U.S. approval for domestic construction has not been secured. The project faces challenges related to fuel procurement and international cooperation, especially with the U.S.