Overview
- President Donald Trump announced U.S. approval for South Korea to pursue nuclear-powered submarines and said the vessels would be built at Philadelphia shipyards owned by Hanwha Ocean.
- South Korea welcomed the move, with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun calling for working-level consultations and the government weighing an interagency task force led by the prime minister’s office.
- The Korea‑U.S. nuclear cooperation pact limits military uses, so revisions or a separate agreement, potential congressional review, and engagement with the IAEA and Nuclear Suppliers Group would be required for fuel supply and technology transfer.
- Hanwha’s Philadelphia yard is not equipped to build nuclear submarines, and the company has outlined multi‑billion‑dollar modernization plans as details of any construction program remain to be formalized.
- Defense leaders in Seoul estimate an initial build timeline of more than a decade and say at least four boats are needed, while China urged the U.S. and South Korea to uphold nonproliferation obligations.