Sudden Nuclear Submarine Approval "Highly Unusual"...A Calculated Move Lies Beneath [Current Affairs Show]

Proliferation of Nuclear Submarine Capabilities Expected in Northeast Asia
Rising Military Tensions Amid U.S.-China Arms Race

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show'

■ Host: Political Specialist So Jongseop

■ Director: Producer Park Sumin

■ Guest: Reporter Lee Hyunwoo

As U.S. President Donald Trump has approved South Korea's construction of nuclear-powered submarines, the military landscape of Northeast Asia is undergoing rapid transformation. The official announcement during the South Korea-U.S. summit marks not just a new weapons acquisition, but is expected to become a major turning point in the regional balance of power. President Lee Jaemyung directly mentioned North Korea and China, emphasizing the necessity of nuclear-powered submarines, and this decision reflects the heightened sense of security crisis surrounding the Korean Peninsula.

Trump's Surprise Approval of SSN... A Fearsome Weapon Even Without Nuclear Warheads

On the 29th of last month (local time), President Lee Jae-myung (right) is shaking hands with U.S. President Donald Trump while presenting a model of a golden crown as a gift during the summit held at the Gyeongju Museum. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The nuclear-powered submarine approved by President Trump is an attack submarine (SSN), not the ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) that the general public often imagines. Both types are called "nuclear submarines" as they are powered by nuclear propulsion engines, but the attack submarine does not carry nuclear warhead missiles, which is a key difference. Therefore, this approval does not fall under the category of the three major nuclear forces, but military experts still regard this decision as highly significant.

The greatest strength of an attack submarine lies in its overwhelming underwater endurance. While conventional diesel submarines can remain submerged for only about three to four days at most, nuclear-powered submarines can stay underwater for at least three to six months. Some analyses even suggest that, if food supplies are resolved, they could theoretically remain submerged for up to six years. Because they can hide for extended periods in the deep sea, undetected by radar, and strike like a massive missile base, they are called "ghosts of the sea." It is nearly impossible to predict where a missile might be launched from, making interception extremely difficult.

The ability to remain submerged for long periods means much more than just hiding for a long time. Nuclear-powered submarines are optimized for covert operations and can leave home waters to infiltrate deep into enemy territory, conducting long-term intelligence gathering and surveillance. Merely possessing and operating a nuclear-powered submarine dramatically expands a nation's operational reach and detection capabilities, representing a qualitative leap in military power.

Currently, only six countries in the world possess nuclear-powered submarines: the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and India. In Northeast Asia, only China has had nuclear-powered submarines; even Japan does not yet possess one. The fact that South Korea now has access to this strategic weapon, which only a handful of countries possess, signifies its far-reaching impact.

In 2023, the United States launched the AUKUS military alliance with the United Kingdom and Australia, deciding to transfer nuclear-powered submarine technology to Australia-a move clearly aimed at containing China. The approval for South Korea is interpreted in the same context. If South Korea acquires nuclear-powered submarines, it is expected that Japan will also begin construction, and in the mid- to long-term, Taiwan may join as well. The barriers to nuclear-powered submarines in Northeast Asia have now been completely lifted.

South Korea Has Prepared for Nuclear Submarine Development Since 1994... Possesses Most Key Technologies

The ship unveiled at the Jang Yeongsil ship launching ceremony held on the 22nd of last month at Hanwha Ocean in Geoje, Gyeongnam. Photo by Yonhap News

There are complex strategic calculations behind the United States' bold decision. In fact, successive U.S. administrations have consistently rejected South Korea's long-standing requests to build nuclear-powered submarines. This was due to South Korea's position as a frontline state facing China, North Korea, and Russia. There were strong concerns that strengthening nuclear capabilities in such a sensitive region would excessively heighten military tensions. There was also significant apprehension about provoking China and Russia.

However, the Trump administration has completely overturned all these concerns. It has opened the door not only for South Korea but also for other regional allies to develop nuclear capabilities. In effect, the United States has triggered the very arms race it had previously sought to restrain. This dramatic policy shift is interpreted as evidence that the United States is facing considerable difficulties in containing China in the Asia region.

With the risk of international conflict rising in the Taiwan Strait, the United States is preparing for the possibility of adventurous military provocations by China. At the same time, it intends to send a clear warning message to China. If South Korea, Japan, and Australia all become armed with nuclear-powered submarines, China will face a predicament on all fronts. This is a strategy to share the burden of containing China, which has become too great for the United States to handle alone, with its allies.

South Korea is expected to be able to deploy nuclear-powered submarines into actual service unusually quickly, thanks to its long preparation period and advanced technological capabilities. South Korea began considering nuclear-powered submarine development in 1994, following the first North Korean nuclear crisis-meaning nearly 30 years of quiet preparation. Since 2003, the effort has become more serious, with private companies such as Hyundai Heavy Industries and the Agency for Defense Development accumulating significant technological expertise through public-private cooperation.

As a country that independently operates numerous nuclear power plants, South Korea is considered to be highly advanced in the small modular reactor (SMR) technology that is key to nuclear submarine engines. Essential submarine technologies such as acoustic shielding, artificial intelligence systems for next-generation submarines, and vertical launch system multi-missile launch capabilities are also nearly complete. In fact, South Korea was essentially ready to begin construction as soon as it received approval to use nuclear fuel.

Currently, under the South Korea-U.S. nuclear agreement, the use of highly enriched uranium for military purposes is prohibited. Nuclear-powered submarines require uranium enriched to at least around 20 percent, but its use for military purposes is currently blocked. If revisions to the South Korea-U.S. nuclear agreement resolve this issue, and if restrictions on spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and imports of highly enriched uranium are lifted, rapid deployment is expected to be possible.

Experts predict that, once all procedures are completed and the submarines are fully constructed and deployed, South Korea will become the world's seventh nuclear-powered submarine nation between 2030 and 2032. Since it is now 2025, this means South Korea could achieve this in about five to seven years-much faster than Australia, Japan, or Taiwan. This will be the moment when nearly 30 years of quietly developed technology finally shines.

Major Changes Expected in East Asian Dynamics... Concerns Over China's Response

AP Yonhap News

However, this military strengthening does not only bring rosy prospects. The fact that the approval for nuclear-powered submarine construction was announced at the official South Korea-U.S. summit is itself highly unusual. It has become major international news, and President Lee Jaemyung's remarks about the difficulty of tracking Chinese submarine activity and his emphasis on cooperation with the U.S. military are certain to provoke a strong backlash from China.

From China's perspective, South Korea's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines is unwelcome. Especially since it is premised on close cooperation with the United States, it will clearly be seen as part of a strategy to contain China. This is why there is growing interpretation that South Korea's role in the U.S. containment strategy in East Asia will expand significantly. Possessing nuclear-powered submarines is not simply about having one more weapon; it means South Korea will become even more deeply involved on the front lines of U.S.-China conflict.

Just possessing nuclear-powered submarines dramatically expands a nation's military and intelligence operational reach. South Korea's operational area would extend not only to its own coastal waters, but also to the South China Sea and the Pacific. As cooperation with the U.S. military is strengthened, South Korea will not be able to remain free from the effects whenever military tensions rise between the U.S. and China. The fact that undetectable nuclear-powered submarines will operate within the South Korea-U.S. alliance system means that, whether South Korea wants it or not, it will become even more deeply embedded at the heart of regional military tensions.

If Japan and Taiwan also begin constructing nuclear-powered submarines, Northeast Asia will enter an unprecedented era of arms competition. China will further strengthen its own nuclear-powered submarine forces in response, and Russia is also expected to bolster its military presence in the Far East. This is why there are concerns that a vicious cycle of mutual military build-up among all regional countries could begin.