South Korea aims to launch first nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-2030s
The plan uses low-enriched uranium fuel and domestic shipbuilding as Seoul seeks to counter North Korea’s submarine-based nuclear threats.
- On Tuesday, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced South Korea will seek to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-2030s under a new programme aimed at countering North Korea's submarine-launched nuclear and missile threats.
- The initiative gained momentum after President Lee secured President Donald Trump's backing during a summit last year, marking the most official public step toward formalizing the push.
- Jangbogo-N will use low-enriched uranium fuel and be developed domestically, drawing on South Korea's nuclear, shipbuilding and defence sectors while maintaining the nation's commitment not to acquire or develop nuclear weapons, Ahn said.
- South Korea will coordinate with the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency on non-proliferation safeguards, as President Lee said the submarines symbolize the nation's determination to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula.
- Deployment is targeted for the late 2030s following launch in the mid-2030s, positioning the submarines as part of a broader strategy to strengthen military autonomy and advance defense manufacturing capabilities.
47 Articles
47 Articles
South Korea Announces Plan to Build Domestic Nuclear Attack Boat
South Korea will build a new class of nuclear-powered attack boats to counter North Korea’s growing missile submarine threat, Seoul announced Tuesday. The nuclear submarines “will be developed and constructed entirely within the Republic of Korea,” reads a Ministry of National Defense document published Tuesday as part of the announcement that details the Republic of Korea’s Nuclear-powered Submarine Initiative. The formal announcement of a homeg
South Korea to Launch First Nuclear-Powered Submarines by Mid-2030s
South Korea aims to launch its first nuclear-powered submarines in the mid-2030s, part of the Asian country’s measures to counter aggression from North Korea. South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said on May 26 at a defense strategy meeting that the project, called “Jang Bogo N,” will develop nuclear-powered vessels that will use low-enriched uranium of up to 20 percent for fuel, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. “We will work…
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