Donald Trump has accepted South Korea’s long-sought plan to construct nuclear-powered submarines, a transfer that would remodel Korea’s naval capabilities and the way forward for its shipbuilding trade whereas strengthening strategic cooperation with Washington.
A day after the 2 allies reached a broad commerce and tariff deal within the southern city of Gyeongju on the sidelines of the APEC leaders’ assembly, the US president stated on Thursday that he’s permitting South Korea to construct nuclear-powered submarines within the US.
“I’ve given them approval to construct a Nuclear Powered Submarine, slightly than the quaint, and much much less nimble, diesel powered Submarines that they’ve now,” Trump stated on Reality Social.
In a separate submit, he wrote: “South Korea shall be constructing its Nuclear Powered Submarine within the Philadelphia Shipyards, proper right here within the good ol’ U.S.A.”
“Shipbuilding in our Nation will quickly be making a BIG COMEBACK,” he added.
On Wednesday, Lee requested Trump to “resolve to permit us to obtain gas for nuclear-propelled submarines.”
Lee stated: “We’re not proposing to construct submarines armed with nuclear weapons. We wish you to permit us to safe nuclear gas for nuclear-powered submarines. Diesel submarines have inferior submerged endurance, which limits our capacity to trace North Korean or Chinese language submarines.”
The Korean president instructed Trump that if South Korea owned nuclear-powered submarines, it could cut back the operational burden on the US Navy in regional waters at a time when tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea stay excessive.
WORLD’S NO. 7 OPERATOR OF NUKE-POWERED SUBS
If all goes to plan, Seoul will assemble nuclear-powered submarines at Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc. in Philadelphia, owned by Hanwha Ocean Co., which might mark a dramatic coverage shift that positions South Korea because the world’s seventh operator of nuclear-propelled submarines.
Whereas the development itself falls beneath South Korean sovereignty, the approval indicators a de facto US dedication to offering key nuclear propulsion know-how and enriched uranium gas – areas that stay strictly managed beneath the bilateral nuclear cooperation settlement.
Amending or supplementing that accord shall be important earlier than Seoul can purchase reactor gas for such submarines, that are designed to function with low-enriched uranium slightly than nuclear warheads.
The Trump administration’s transfer mirrors the AUKUS framework launched beneath former US President Joe Biden in 2021, beneath which the US and UK agreed to switch nuclear-submarine know-how to Australia.
Washington’s extension of an analogous privilege to Seoul underscores its rising need for South Korea to play a bigger maritime position in countering China’s regional affect, analysts stated.
Trump’s inexperienced gentle for Seoul’s nuclear-powered submarines comes on the identical day that he had a bilateral summit with Chinese language President Xi Jinping in Busan, southeast of Seoul.
Xi flew to Busan earlier on Thursday to fulfill with Trump and attend the APEC leaders’ assembly.
“This may very well be a game-changer,” stated a protection knowledgeable in Seoul. “A Korean nuclear sub fleet would considerably improve allied undersea surveillance and deterrence capabilities within the Indo-Pacific.”
Analysts stated the choice, nevertheless, may face home resistance throughout the US authorities, the place some officers have expressed issues over nuclear non-proliferation dangers and the precedent it’d set for different allies.
HANWHA TO TAKE THE LEAD
Hanwha Ocean, previously Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, has been main the “Make American Shipbuilding Nice Once more” (MASGA) mission – a Korea-proposed initiative to revive the US shipbuilding trade with minimal labor enter via automation and AI.
Business officers stated Hanwha Ocean, which acquired the Philly shipyard final 12 months, has been tapped to guide this system, given its in depth report in submarine development and its current US services.
Hanwha has constructed 17 of the 23 submarines delivered to the South Korean Navy and is the one home agency with export expertise, having delivered three submarines to Indonesia.
Hanwha Ocean stated in a press release on Thursday that it “totally helps the historic determination made by Presidents Lee and Trump” and is “able to contribute with cutting-edge shipbuilding applied sciences.”
The nuclear-powered model is predicted to debut within the Jang Bogo-IV class, which follows South Korea’s regionally designed KSS-III diesel-electric submarines.
Every nuclear-powered unit may value about 2.2 trillion gained ($1.5 billion), making it some of the useful protection property within the nation’s portfolio.
The choice of Hanwha additionally highlights Seoul’s ambition to combine its industrial shipbuilding prowess with high-end protection know-how, probably creating a brand new export area of interest.
Hanwha’s 330-meter Philadelphia yard, outfitted with two dry docks, is able to establishing practically all lessons of US Navy floor ships besides plane carriers.
NEW HORIZON FOR KOREAN SHIPBUILDERS
The event might also profit HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., one other key participant within the MASGA mission and Korea’s largest shipbuilder.
Hanwha and HD Hyundai signed a “one crew” partnership earlier this 12 months to collectively pursue naval exports, with Hyundai specializing in floor ships and Hanwha on submarines.
The alliance just lately had them included within the shortlist for Canada’s multi-billion-dollar submarine procurement mission.
Analysts stated nuclear submarine know-how may very well be Korea’s subsequent main industrial breakthrough, opening up new export alternatives in high-value protection and vitality programs.
For now, a lot hinges on the technical particulars of nuclear gas provide and US congressional approval.
However Trump’s swift determination, only a day after Seoul’s request, indicators each a strategic realignment and a political flourish attribute of his international coverage fashion, analysts stated.
In mid-October, China imposed sanctions on 5 US subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, accusing the shipbuilder of aiding Washington’s efforts to revive its shipbuilding trade – a transfer underscoring Korea’s squeezed place within the escalating US-China confrontation.
The 5 corporations are Hanwha Transport LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Hanwha Ocean USA Worldwide LLC, Hanwha Transport Holdings LLC and HS USA Holdings Corp.
On Thursday, China, in response to Seoul’s transfer to construct nuclear-powered submarines, stated: “We hope South Korea and the US fulfill their non-proliferation obligations.”
