▲ Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back speaks during a National Assembly session, in this file photo from April 14, 2026. (Yonhap)

nuclear-powered submarines-road map

S. Korea aims to launch 1st nuclear-powered submarine in mid-2030s: defense minister

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 Jinhae, 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.

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