South Korea has won formal U.S. approval for its decades-long pursuit of a nuclear-powered submarine, as confirmed in a joint fact sheet released on Friday, November 14, 2025. The document, which followed the late October summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, states that the U.S. will work closely with the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the project, including avenues to source fuel. President Lee described the nuclear submarine as an “essential strategic asset” for better responding to North Korean threats. Upon completion, which is expected to take 10 years or longer, South Korea will become the world’s eighth country to own such a vessel. Further discussions are needed on securing fuel, given the existing civil nuclear energy cooperation pact that limits military use, a process ROK officials compare to the exception granted to Australia in the AUKUS security partnership.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251114007600315?section=national/defense
