South Korea Nuclear-Powered Submarine Construction Project

planned

Following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of approval for South Korea to construct a nuclear-powered submarine, the project faces complex procedural and technical challenges. These include nuclear fuel procurement, amendments to the U.S.-South Korea nuclear agreement, scope of U.S. technology transfers, separate agreements on military-use nuclear materials, interagency reviews, and congressional nonproliferation concerns. The two countries held their first official security talks six months after the announcement to discuss the submarine project and related nuclear issues, aiming to establish a consultation framework by the end of the year. Military nuclear use requires separate U.S. legal agreements, indicating a long path ahead for the project.