Overview
- Trump said on Truth Social that he approved South Korea building a nuclear-powered submarine at the Philadelphia shipyards rather than pursuing diesel-electric boats.
- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung recently asked Washington for help securing nuclear fuel for the program during talks with Trump in Seoul, according to reporting.
- The Philadelphia Shipyard, now operated by South Korea’s Hanwha Group, was cited in Trump’s posts as the construction site, linking the project to U.S. shipbuilding revival efforts.
- Experts quoted in Seoul said the move signals a shift in Washington’s stance but warned it would require transparency and strict safeguards to address nonproliferation and regional sensitivities.
- Following Trump’s in-person meeting with Xi Jinping, the U.S. said a port fee dispute is being postponed during negotiations, with officials signaling broader trade de-escalation steps pending formal documentation.