South Korea aims to launch first nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-2030s
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- South Korea announced a program to develop and launch its first nuclear‑powered submarine by the mid‑2030s, as stated by Defence Minister Ahn Gyu‑back on May 26.
- The submarine will be powered by low‑enriched uranium fuel and will be designed and built domestically, leveraging South Korea’s nuclear, shipbuilding and defence sectors.
- Seoul will coordinate with the United States to obtain low‑enriched uranium and will engage the International Atomic Energy Agency to safeguard non‑proliferation.
- Nuclear propulsion will enable the vessel to remain submerged for significantly longer periods and improve mobility compared with South Korea’s current diesel‑electric fleet.
Why it matters: South Korea gains a strategic underwater advantage, extending patrol endurance and deterrence against North Korea’s missile‑submarine threat, while the United States secures a reliable ally in the region; the move also reinforces non‑proliferation safeguards through US‑IAEA oversight.
