US to Aid South Korea in Building Nuclear Submarines
Synopsis
The South Korean government announced that the United States will help South Korea build nuclear-powered strategic submarines at a shipyard in Philadelphia run by South Korean conglomerate Hanwha. According to the details, South Korea already possesses about 20 submarines. However, all of them are diesel-propelled. Till now, only six countries currently possess nuclear-powered strategic submarines. They include the US, China, Russia, the UK, France and India.
Nearly a month after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump held a joint meeting, both countries released details of a trade agreement on Friday.
According to the agreement, South Korea will invest $150 billion in the American shipbuilding sector and an additional $200 billion earmarked for industrial sectors.
Apart from this, the South Korean government announced that the United States will help South Korea build nuclear-powered strategic submarines at a shipyard in Philadelphia run by South Korean conglomerate Hanwha.
According to the details, South Korea already possesses about 20 submarines. However, all of them are diesel-propelled. Till now, only six countries currently possess nuclear-powered strategic submarines. They include the US, China, Russia, the UK, France and India.
What Did The US Say?
In a statement released by the United States on Thursday, the White House said that the US had "given approval for the Republic of Korea to build nuclear-powered attack submarines.
Also, US President Donald Trump posted the development on his social media platform Truth Social, where he said that he has given South Korea approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine.
He wrote on Truth Social, "I have given them approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine, rather than the old-fashioned, and far less nimble, diesel-powered submarines that they have now."
What Did the South Korean President Say?
Announcing the minutes of the trade deal with the US, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said that South Korea-US trade, commerce, and security negotiations have been concluded. He referred to the US as an excellent partner and President Trump as a rational decision maker.
For South Korea, its Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan signed the agreement with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick .
South Korean Security Needs:
Though South Korea is a powerhouse in civilian nuclear energy, however, it gave away its nuclear weapons programme in the 1970s under US pressure.
South Korea's new vessel programme is aimed at countering North Korea, which had earlier said that it was pursuing its own nuclear submarine programme.
South Korea's Minister of Defence, in early November, had said, during a TV interview, that nuclear submarines would be a proud achievement for them. He added that the new nuclear submarines would strengthen the country's defence against North Korea.
According to South Korean officials, North Korea may have an arsenal of approximately 50 nuclear weapons. And as part of its nuclear weapons programme, they may be pursuing the programme with Russia's help.
Impact Of Submarine Deal:
Experts believe that the nuclear-propelled submarine deal would help South Korea boost its defence capabilities, making it a prominent regional player.
With nuclear submarines having the capability to sail faster and for a longer period, South Korea will have the advantage to operate them together with more countries.
What The US Expects?
Supporting South Korea, with a nuclear-powered submarine programme, fulfils the broader aim of the United States to pressure both North Korea and China.
Experts say that through this deal, the US has put the burden of defence spending on the back of South Korea. Now, the Asian country will act as America's proxy.
South Korea has long been a country of strategic importance for both the US and China, especially in the South China Sea. In recent times, China has increased its naval activity near South Korea's maritime border.
Now, the next step for South Korea is to adjust the nuclear agreement it made with the US and secure the Korean Peninsula.
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