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🇦🇺 Australia /Energy & Infrastructure

South Korea to Build Nuclear-Powered Submarines with US Support, Ahead of AUKUS

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • South Korea will build its own nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s, with US support.
  • This plan differs from Australia's AUKUS submarine deal in its development path and underlying reasons.
  • The project's cost and exact number of submarines remain undisclosed, presenting potential risks.

South Korea is set to develop and construct its own fleet of nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s, marking a significant step in its defense capabilities. This ambition, long-held by Seoul, received a crucial boost when the United States agreed to support the initiative, a departure from previous non-proliferation concerns.

South Korea will be building its Nuclear Powered Submarine in the Philadelphia Shipyards, right here in the good ol' USA.

— Donald TrumpCommenting on the US agreement to support South Korea's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines.

The breakthrough occurred ahead of last year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting, with former US President Donald Trump signaling approval. While the US will provide assistance, South Korea's plan diverges from Australia's AUKUS submarine endeavor. Unlike the AUKUS deal, which involves a substantial price tag and international collaboration, Seoul's approach emphasizes domestic development.

Most importantly, they haven't put a dollar figure on it.

— Euan GrahamHighlighting the lack of cost details in South Korea's submarine plan.

Details surrounding the project remain scarce, with South Korea's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back indicating the submarines will use low-enriched uranium fuel and the first vessel is expected within a decade. However, the absence of a specific cost projection and the exact number of submarines to be built introduces considerable ambiguity. Experts suggest this lack of financial clarity is a major risk, as nuclear-powered submarines are notoriously expensive to build, operate, and maintain over their lifecycle.

That ambiguity [in the South Korean plan] is, in a funny way, more honest because they don't know what they don't know.

— Euan GrahamCommenting on the uncertainty surrounding South Korea's submarine project.

Analysts note that South Korea must carefully balance this ambitious submarine program with other pressing defense priorities. These include enhancing air and missile defense systems, expanding its conventional submarine fleet, investing in unmanned systems, bolstering cyber capabilities, and improving space-based surveillance. The success of the nuclear-powered submarine initiative will depend on Seoul's ability to manage these competing demands effectively.

South Korea will need to balance this program with other defence priorities, including air and missile defence, conventional submarines, unmanned systems, cyber capabilities, and space-based surveillance.

— Jihoon YuExplaining the financial and strategic challenges South Korea faces with its submarine program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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