South Korea eyes nuclear submarine launch by late 2030s after US approval
South Korea could launch its first nuclear-powered submarine by the late 2030s, a senior defence ministry official said Tuesday, days after the United States approved Seoul’s plan to move forward with development. The announcement follows remarks by US President Donald Trump, who said he had given Washington’s ally a “green light” for the project after the two countries reached a broad deal covering investment and shipbuilding. Trump, speaking during a regional summit in Seoul, wrote on Truth Social that South Korea would manufacture its submarine “in the Philadelphia Shipyards, right here in the good ol’ U.S.A.” U.S. nuclear submarine technology is among the most tightly guarded military secrets, making Washington’s approval a significant milestone for Seoul. Unlike diesel-powered submarines, which must surface periodically to recharge batteries, nuclear-powered vessels can remain submerged for extended periods, offering major strategic advantages. Seoul has […]