US-South Korea nuclear submarine deal: What does it imply?

[ad_1] Jake Kwon, Seoul and

Gavin Butler, Singapore

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/7140/live/9413dec0-c150-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/7140/live/9413dec0-c150-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7140/live/9413dec0-c150-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/7140/live/9413dec0-c150-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/7140/live/9413dec0-c150-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/7140/live/9413dec0-c150-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/7140/live/9413dec0-c150-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7140/live/9413dec0-c150-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters A still image from video, released by the Russian Defence Ministry, shows what it said to be Russia's strategic nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Reuters File photograph of a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine

South Korea's authorities has introduced that it has finalised an settlement to construct nuclear-powered submarines in partnership with the USA.

The US has authorized the "assault submarines" and agreed to cooperate in sourcing gasoline, in response to a truth sheet launched by the White Home on Thursday.

The settlement marks a major step in South Korea's relations with the US and comes amid a interval of rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula: with the nuclear-armed North Korea, and an expansionist China to the west.

Here is what you'll want to know concerning the settlement.

What's within the settlement?

The settlement between the US and South Korea comes as leaders from each international locations reached a broad commerce deal earlier final month that will see reciprocal tariffs lower to fifteen% from 25%.

US President Donald Trump had slapped a tariff price on Seoul of 25% earlier this yr - which his counterpart Lee Jae Myung managed to barter down to fifteen%, after Seoul mentioned it might make investments $350bn (£265bn) within the US, together with $200bn in money funding and $150bn in shipbuilding.

In a White Home readout launched on Thursday, the US mentioned it had "given approval for the Republic of Korea to construct nuclear-powered assault submarines... [and would] work carefully to advance necessities for this mission, together with avenues to supply gasoline".

In an earlier submit on his social media platform Fact Social, Trump had mentioned the vessels can be constructed at a shipyard in Philadelphia run by South Korean conglomerate Hanwha.

Solely six international locations at the moment possess nuclear-powered strategic submarines: the US, China, Russia, the UK, France and India.

South Korea already possesses about 20 submarines, however they're all diesel propelled and due to this fact must floor way more continuously. Nuclear submarines are additionally in a position to function additional and quicker.

"I've given them approval to construct a nuclear-powered submarine, reasonably than the old school, and much much less nimble, diesel-powered submarines that they've now," Trump had wrote on Fact Social.

South Korea is a powerhouse in terms of civilian nuclear power. It had a nuclear weapons programme within the Nineteen Seventies however gave it up following US stress.

And so its skill to counterpoint or reprocess uranium is restricted by the US as it's totally depending on imports.

Why does South Korea need nuclear submarines?

The most recent vessel programme is geared toward countering North Korea, which not too long ago revealed that it was pursuing its personal nuclear submarine programme.

President Lee had informed Trump on the APEC summit final month that South Korea wanted them for that categorical objective.

In a TV interview final week, Ahn Gyu-back, South Korea's Minister of Defence, mentioned that nuclear submarines can be a "proud achievement" for South Korea, and a significant leap in strengthening the nation's defence in opposition to the North.

The stealth of nuclear submarines would maintain North Korean chief Kim Jong Un "awake at night time", he added.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/857f/live/ff89b4b0-c14e-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/857f/live/ff89b4b0-c14e-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/857f/live/ff89b4b0-c14e-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/857f/live/ff89b4b0-c14e-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/857f/live/ff89b4b0-c14e-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/857f/live/ff89b4b0-c14e-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/857f/live/ff89b4b0-c14e-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/857f/live/ff89b4b0-c14e-11f0-8bc9-0d0d258ea657.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images US President Donald Trump shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Photos US President Donald Trump met his Korean counterpart in South Korea final month

Does North Korea have nuclear submarines?

North Korea has additionally been pursuing a nuclear submarine programme – presumably with Russia's assist, in response to South Korean officers.

In March 2025, North Korea unveiled footage of what it claimed was a nuclear-powered submarine that was below building, exhibiting Kim visiting the shipyard.

Pyongyang is predicted to have the submarines throughout the subsequent few years.

North Korea can also be estimated to have an arsenal of roughly 50 nuclear weapons, as a part of its broader nuclear weapons programme.

Jo Bee-yun, a analysis fellow on the Sejong Institute, urged that Seoul's acquisition of nuclear submarines will assist it keep apace in East Asia's escalating arms race.

"North Korea's nuclear weapon is a longtime truth," she informed the BBC. "[South Korea acquiring] nuclear submarines is barely a step within the bigger development of rising pressure."

Will this inflame tensions on the Korean Peninsula?

It's unclear how a lot the nuclear-propelled submarines will contribute to South Korea's defence capabilities – and although they're very costly, they do not fairly change the stability of energy on the Korean Peninsula, in response to some consultants.

Yang Uk, a analysis fellow on the Asan Institute for Coverage Research, informed the BBC that the nuclear subs' main objective is to guarantee South Korean voters that their authorities is responding to North Korea's nuclear risk.

"South Korea can't develop its personal nuclear weapons to counter North Korea's," Dr Yang mentioned. "What's one thing that they will do? Fielding nuclear submarines."

Dr Yang believes North Korea may revel within the change, nonetheless, as a result of it reinforces their justification to carry on to nuclear weapons – which means it should change into harder to demand that Pyongyang hand over its nuclear arsenal.

Jo nonetheless emphasised the strategic benefit that South Korea stands to realize from the brand new submarine deal, describing it as a "main change" which "means South Korea is now a regional participant".

"The perfect function of a nuclear submarine is its pace," she mentioned. "It may now go quick and much and South Korea can function along with extra international locations."

What's in it for the USA?

For Washington, help for South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine programme doubtless goals to place stress on each North Korea and China.

"Trump has put the burden of defence spending on the again of South Korea," Dr Yang defined. "South Korea will tremendously broaden its defence price range. They'll act as America's proxy in placing stress on China and North Korea."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0a29/live/5dbbd660-c124-11f0-8f11-85d34539a1c1.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0a29/live/5dbbd660-c124-11f0-8f11-85d34539a1c1.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a29/live/5dbbd660-c124-11f0-8f11-85d34539a1c1.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0a29/live/5dbbd660-c124-11f0-8f11-85d34539a1c1.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0a29/live/5dbbd660-c124-11f0-8f11-85d34539a1c1.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0a29/live/5dbbd660-c124-11f0-8f11-85d34539a1c1.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0a29/live/5dbbd660-c124-11f0-8f11-85d34539a1c1.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a29/live/5dbbd660-c124-11f0-8f11-85d34539a1c1.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Donald Trump sitting at a desk, wearing a suit and red tie" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Photos Donald Trump is making an attempt to counter the affect of different nations in South Korea, in response to consultants

US and China have lengthy competed for strategic affect in South Korea, leaving Seoul to stroll a geopolitical tightrope. Extra not too long ago, China has been growing its naval exercise close to South Korea's maritime border – a transfer akin to these seen within the South China Sea.

Beijing have to be "livid" about South Korea's nuclear submarine settlement with the US, Dr Yang mentioned.

Following the deal's announcement, the Chinese language Ambassador to South Korea, Dai Bing, mentioned he hoped South Korea would "take care of this concern prudently, making an allowance for the considerations of all sides".

Dai additionally added that Beijing was participating with Seoul on the matter by diplomatic channels, and emphasised that "the (safety) scenario on the Korean Peninsula and within the area continues to be complicated and delicate".

What subsequent?

Though President Trump mentioned the submarines can be inbuilt Philadelphia and produce jobs to the US, South Korean officers have maintained they have to be constructed domestically, the place current amenities can ship them in a a lot shorter timeline.

South Korea's Prime Minister Kim Min-seok had himself mentioned throughout a parliamentary listening to that the South Korean owned shipyard in Philadelphia did "not have the aptitude" to construct such vessels, in response to reviews.

Hanwha, who owns the shipyard, has but to touch upon the matter.

However now that an settlement has been reached, the subsequent step is to regulate the nuclear settlement between the 2 international locations, permitting for the US to supply nuclear gasoline and to set the fence for its army use.