Overview
- The announcement followed the Oct. 29 summit in Gyeongju, where President Lee sought U.S. approval to receive nuclear submarine fuel.
- Trump stated on social media that the submarines would be constructed at a shipyard in Philadelphia.
- South Korea does not currently operate nuclear-powered submarines.
- The existing U.S.–ROK nuclear cooperation pact bars military use of U.S.-supplied fuel, which would need revision before any transfer.
- Lee said the submarines would not carry nuclear weapons and argued nuclear propulsion is needed to better track North Korean and Chinese submarines, as Trump emphasized a stronger alliance.