▲ Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back makes remarks about South Korea's road map for a nuclear-powered submarine program during a future defense strategy session led by President Lee Jae Myung at a naval base in Jinhae, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 26, 2026. (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) nuclear-powered submarines-road map

(2nd LD) S. Korea aims to launch 1st nuclear-powered submarine in mid-2030s: defense minister

(ATTN: ADDS details, background in paras 10-13)

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea aims to develop domestically built nuclear-powered attack submarines fueled by low-enriched uranium and plans to launch the first vessel in the mid-2030s, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Tuesday.

Ahn made the announcement about the road map for the country's long-sought submarine program as Seoul moves to accelerate its push for the project after gaining U.S. consent during a summit between the two countries' leaders last October.

The project, dubbed "Jang Bogo N," aims to develop and build the nuclear-propelled submarines in South Korea, with the goal of bringing them into operational service after the late 2030s, Ahn said at a defense strategy meeting, presided over by President Lee Jae Myung at a naval base in Changwon, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul.

"We will work to launch the first nuclear-powered submarine in the mid-2030s and push ahead with development to enter operational service in the latter half of the 2030s or later," he said.

"Nuclear-powered submarines are expected to play a key role in responding to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, based on their ability to remain submerged for an extended period with greater mobility," Ahn said.

The "N" in the project's name symbolizes South Korea's efforts to build "next-generation," "nuclear-powered" and "neo-technology" based nuclear-propelled submarines, the defense ministry said in a release.

The submarines will use low-enriched uranium enriched to less than 20 percent for fuel, the minister said.

The U.S. gave the green light for its Asian ally to build conventionally armed nuclear-propelled attack submarines, with the commitment reflected in a written summit agreement, known as the joint fact sheet.

Under the agreement, Washington has committed to working with Seoul to advance requirements for the submarine program, including avenues to source fuel.

While Ahn made it clear that the submarines will be built domestically, the issue of where the vessels will be constructed could emerge in future negotiations with Washington.

Following summit talks with Lee in Gyeongju in October, U.S. President Donald Trump said the submarines would be built at a Philadelphia shipyard, operated by South Korea's Hanwha Ocean Co.

Tuesday's announcement marks the official launch of South Korea's long-sought efforts to develop such vessels, an initiative dating back to the early 1990s.

Nuclear-propelled submarines are powered by small nuclear reactors and designed to remain submerged for months. They are also significantly faster than conventional diesel-powered submarines, making them an important military asset.

Ahn stressed that South Korea remains committed to international nonproliferation obligations through cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

His remarks were seen as an apparent attempt to dispel concerns that the project could raise questions about the country's nuclear ambitions.

"We will faithfully comply with its nonproliferation obligations throughout the entire process of securing and managing low-enriched uranium, the nuclear fuel required for the submarine's propulsion system, in close consultation with the United States," Ahn said.

South Korea is barred from using nuclear material for military purposes under a bilateral nuclear energy pact with the United States. It is also bound by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on preventing the spread of nuclear material for military use.

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