South Korean President Lee Jae Myung says the US helps Seoul’s bid to safe uranium enrichment and spent nuclear gas reprocessing capabilities.
Revealed On 14 Nov 2025
The USA and South Korea have launched particulars of a commerce settlement that features a $150bn Korean funding within the US shipbuilding sector, and each nations comply with “transfer ahead” on constructing nuclear-powered submarines.
Beneath the settlement, President Lee Jae Myung stated on Friday that South Korea will construct nuclear-powered submarines as a part of a brand new partnership with Washington on shipbuilding, synthetic intelligence and the nuclear trade.
Advisable Tales
checklist of 4 objectsfinish of checklist
A reality sheet launched by the White Home stated the US gave approval for Seoul to construct nuclear-powered submarines and that South Korea will make investments a further $200bn in US industrial sectors along with the $150bn in shipbuilding.
South Korea’s official Yonhap information company stated Seoul’s funding was in return for Washington’s decreasing of commerce tariffs on Korean items to fifteen p.c from 25 p.c.
“One of many best variables for our financial system and safety – the bilateral negotiations on commerce, tariffs and safety – has been finalised,” President Lee stated at a information convention on Friday, including the 2 nations had agreed to “transfer ahead with constructing nuclear-powered submarines”.
“The USA has given approval for the ROK [Republic of Korea] to construct nuclear-powered assault submarines,” Lee stated.
Seoul additionally secured “help for increasing our authority over uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing”, he stated.
The joint reality sheet outlining the deal stated each side would “collaborate additional by means of a shipbuilding working group” to “enhance the variety of US business ships and combat-ready US navy vessels “.
Yonhap additionally reported that South Korea is searching for to amass “4 or extra 5,000-ton conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s “.
South Korea’s growth of nuclear-powered vessels would offer a big enhance to its naval and defence industries, permitting Seoul to hitch a choose group of nations with such technological capabilities, analysts say.
China had already voiced concern over a Washington-Seoul deal on nuclear submarine know-how.
Such a partnership “goes past a purely business partnership, straight concerning the worldwide nonproliferation regime and the soundness of the Korean Peninsula and the broader area,” China’s Ambassador in Seoul Dai Bing informed reporters on Thursday.
North Korea didn’t instantly touch upon the event, however is prone to reply. Pyongyang has persistently accused Washington and Seoul of build up navy forces on the North’s borders in preparation for an invasion someday.
Particulars stay murky on the place the nuclear submarines shall be constructed.
US President Donald Trump stated on social media final month that “South Korea shall be constructing its Nuclear Powered Submarine within the Philadelphia Shipyards, proper right here within the good ol’ U.S.A”.
Nonetheless, Seoul’s nationwide safety adviser Wi Sung-lac stated on Friday that “from begin to end, the leaders’ dialogue proceeded on the premise that building would happen in South Korea”.
“So the query of the place building will happen can now be thought-about settled,” Wi stated.
