By Alimat Aliyeva
South Korean authorities are negotiating with the United States
over the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine, insisting
that it be built on South Korean soil, Azernews
reports.
This was stated by Presidential Adviser on National Security Wee
Son Lak during a briefing.
“The discussions are based on the premise that construction will
take place in the Republic of Korea,” he said. Following the
October 29 summit in Gyeongju, U.S. President Donald Trump
announced that he would allow South Korea to build a nuclear
submarine at a shipyard in Philadelphia. South Korean officials,
including Wee Son Lak, later clarified that they intend for the
submarine to be constructed domestically. The joint statement
released on November 14 did not specify the construction site.
“At the summit, this issue was discussed from start to finish
from the position that the construction will occur in South Korea.
We did not entertain the proposal to build the submarine in the
United States,” Wee Son Lak emphasized.
“We seek cooperation and may request assistance from the United
States. But when asked where the submarine will be built, the
answer remains: in South Korea,” the National Security Adviser
reiterated. On November 6, he dismissed as unrealistic a proposal
to invest in Philadelphia shipyards to prepare them for nuclear
submarine construction.
Experts note that building a nuclear-powered submarine
domestically would be a major milestone for South Korea’s defense
and shipbuilding industries, potentially positioning the country as
one of the few nations with advanced domestic nuclear submarine
capabilities. It also reflects Seoul’s broader strategy to
strengthen self-reliant defense capabilities while maintaining
close security ties with the United States.