Trump Authorizes South Korea to Build Nuclear-Powered Submarines

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has granted South Korea permission to build nuclear-powered submarines, a decision that reflects growing security concerns around the Korean Peninsula and would give the country access to military technology possessed by few other nations.

The announcement came after a day of diplomatic efforts, including a trade deal between the U.S. and South Korea and a gift of a replica gold crown to Trump. Trump made the announcement on social media, stating that the military alliance between the two countries is "stronger than ever before" and that he has given South Korea approval to build nuclear-powered submarines instead of diesel-powered ones.

South Korea's request to its security ally reflects growing concerns about North Korea's nuclear-capable arsenal and China's increasingly aggressive military posture. The country's national security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, said that if the U.S. approves South Korea's request, it would require revisions to the existing nuclear agreement, which focuses on civilian uses of nuclear energy.

Key Takeaways:

• President Donald Trump has authorized South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines, a decision that would give the country access to military technology possessed by few other nations.
• South Korea's request to its security ally reflects growing security concerns around the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's nuclear-capable arsenal and China's aggressive military posture.
• The U.S. has long opposed the expansion of nuclear enrichment and reprocessing capabilities, even for civilian purposes, citing concerns that it could complicate efforts to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.
• North Korea is already pursuing its own nuclear-powered submarine, with leader Kim Jong Un making it a military priority, and experts have raised concerns that Russia may be willing to help North Korea in return for its support for the Russian war in Ukraine.
• The decision would require revisions to the existing nuclear agreement between the U.S. and South Korea, which would need to be worked out through technical and legal negotiations.
• South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has requested that the country have the ability to reprocess spent nuclear fuel and enrich uranium to pursue the construction of such submarines.

Statistics:

• $350 billion: The amount of South Korean investment in the United States mentioned in the trade deal between the U.S. and South Korea.
• 15 percent: The reduced U.S. auto tariffs in exchange for the trade deal.
• 6 countries: The only nations to possess nuclear-powered submarine technology.
• 1: The number of nuclear-powered submarine that North Korea claims to have built, as revealed in images in March.

Sources:

• Michelle Ye Hee Lee, "Donald Trump says he's authorized South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine," The Washington Post, November 2023.
• Natalie Allison, "Trump authorizes South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarine," NBC News, November 2023.
• "U.S. opposes expansion of nuclear enrichment and reprocessing capabilities," Congressional Research Service, October 2022.