Overview
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung asked for reactor fuel during a meeting with President Trump, and Seoul’s national security adviser said Trump agreed in principle but called for more negotiations.
- Exporting naval reactor fuel is politically sensitive because such submarines often use highly enriched uranium, which can also be used in nuclear weapons.
- Nuclear propulsion would allow the submarines to remain submerged for months, offering far greater endurance than conventional diesel-electric boats.
- Trump said South Korea would provide $350 billion to secure reduced U.S. tariffs, while the South Korean side described $200 billion as cash to the U.S. with the remainder for joint shipbuilding projects.
- Trump also cited roughly $600 billion in additional investments from major South Korean companies, as the U.S. emphasizes closer cooperation with Seoul and Japan to balance China.