South Korea eyes first nuclear submarine by mid-2030s, but hurdles run deep

Lead

South Korea has formally announced plans to build its first nuclear-powered attack submarine, aiming for the vessel to be operational by the mid-2030s, a move that could reshape the region's security landscape. The plan, unveiled by Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back at a meeting of the Future Defense Strategy Committee in Jinhae, comes after the United States endorsed Seoul's pursuit of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines and pledged to help build the vessels, including their propulsion systems, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

The submarines are intended to counter North Korea's submarine-launched nuclear and missile threats, according to the Defense Ministry. The program, known as the Jangbogo-N Project, is described as a "national strategic project" that will leverage South Korea's shipbuilding and nuclear power technologies, with a decade-long construction period and a 30-year operational life expected, Deutsche Welle reported.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the announcement and its aftermath highlights differing angles on the same underlying story. ABC Australia frames the development in explicit comparison to Australia's AUKUS submarine program, noting the historical breakthrough achieved at a summit in Gyeongju and drawing attention to cost ambiguity as a major risk factor. Deutsche Welle places the plan within a regional undersea arms race involving China, North Korea, and Japan, while also flagging non-proliferation concerns and technology transfer issues. The South China Morning Post, in two separate reports, focuses on the diplomatic friction between Washington and Seoul, emphasizing competing priorities over the submarine technology transfer and a separate $350 billion investment pledge.

Key Claims

South Korea's government has announced its intention to build nuclear-powered submarines, with a first vessel expected by the mid-2030s, according to multiple sources. The submarines will use low-enriched uranium fuel, and the first launch is anticipated in about a decade, ABC Australia reported. The planned submarines will have a displacement of 8,000 tonnes, similar to the US Virginia-class, according to the South China Morning Post.

President Lee Jae Myung has urged faster efforts to secure the submarines, describing them as "core strategic assets" and "a symbol of our will to take responsibility for peace and security on the Korean peninsula," as reported by the South China Morning Post.

There is an ongoing dispute over the construction location. US President Donald Trump initially stated the submarines would be built in the Philadelphia Shipyards, a claim reported by both ABC Australia and Deutsche Welle, with the South China Morning Post adding that the plan was backed by South Korean conglomerate Hanwha. Lee has insisted that South Korea should be responsible for building the submarines, according to the South China Morning Post.

US-South Korea talks are set to focus on nuclear fuel approval for the submarines and broader trade matters. Washington is seeking progress on a $350 billion investment pledge from Seoul in return for a lower tariff rate, the South China Morning Post reported. Allison Hooker, US undersecretary of state for political affairs, is expected to lead an inter-agency delegation to Seoul to launch bilateral working groups aimed at implementing agreements from last year's summit, the same outlet reported.

South Korea's ambitions for nuclear-powered submarines date back 20 years but were previously blocked by US proliferation concerns, ABC Australia reported. The country currently faces restrictions on uranium enrichment under an agreement with the US, and ongoing talks on expanded enrichment and reprocessing rights are central to the submarine project, according to ABC Australia.

Perspectives

South Korean government: President Lee Jae Myung and Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back view nuclear-powered submarines as core strategic assets necessary for countering North Korean threats and asserting national sovereignty, according to South China Morning Post and Deutsche Welle.

United States government: The Trump administration endorsed the program but initially insisted on construction in Philadelphia, linking support to American industrial interests, as reported by ABC Australia and Deutsche Welle. Washington is also seeking progress on investment and tariff matters, per the South China Morning Post.

Regional analysts and experts: Several experts quoted across outlets offer varying assessments. Euan Graham, Jihoon Yu, and Seong-Hyon Lee, cited by ABC Australia, stress technical and cost hurdles. Mason Richey, cited by Deutsche Welle, expresses skepticism about the North Korean submarine threat's severity. Leif-Eric Easley, Choo Jae-woo, and Yu Yong-weon, also cited by Deutsche Welle, discuss regional arms race implications and the concept of a "threshold nuclear power."