U.S. Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth stated Tuesday that the USA will totally assist Korea’s plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines, reaffirming U.S. President Donald Trump’s prior approval of the initiative.
“President Trump has authorised this historic step, and I need to reaffirm that call. As protection authorities, we are going to, after all, do our greatest to actively and totally assist it,” Hegseth stated throughout a joint press convention with Protection Minister Ahn Gyu-back after the 57th Safety Consultative Assembly (SCM) on the Ministry of Nationwide Protection in Seoul.
He added, “There are different businesses concerned, together with the Division of State and the Division of Power, and we are going to proceed to coordinate carefully with them. President Trump desires our allies to be robust, and the Republic of Korea is a mannequin ally. Due to that, the president has been open to Korea buying larger and extra superior capabilities.”
The remark by Hegseth, who can be referred to by his authorities because the secretary of battle, got here after Trump stated on social media final week, following a summit with President Lee Jae Myung, that he gave approval for Korea to construct a nuclear submarine. He additionally wrote that the submarine can be constructed at Hanwha Philly Shipyard in the USA.
Underneath the nuclear vitality settlement between the 2 nations, Washington’s approval was essential as a result of Seoul is prohibited from reprocessing spent nuclear gasoline or utilizing it for navy functions with out U.S. consent.
Hegseth stated he was satisfied the nuclear submarine program would strengthen each Korea’s nationwide protection and the bilateral alliance.
“Korea has world-class shipbuilding capabilities, and the USA seems to be ahead to increasing cooperation not solely in submarines but additionally in floor warfare,” he stated.
The secretary’s pledge marks a decisive acceleration of a long-sought and politically delicate navy aim for Seoul — and a serious shift in U.S. coverage towards nuclear naval know-how switch. For South Korea, the transfer might considerably strengthen its capacity to discourage North Korean aggression and counter Pyongyang’s submarine fleet. It could additionally stoke concern in Beijing and Moscow over a possible regional arms race.
Whereas refraining from detailing technical facets, Hegseth famous that future discussions would proceed “in good religion.” He stated each governments share confidence that ongoing consultations will result in constructive outcomes.
The secretary additionally cited progress in broadening the alliance’s defense-industrial cooperation. “For the primary time in historical past, we agreed to reveal the power to keep up and restore U.S. warships right here in Korea,” he stated.
Protection Minister Ahn Gyu-back solutions questions from reporters throughout a joint press convention following the 57th Safety Consultative Assembly on the Ministry of Nationwide Protection in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. At left is U.S. Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth. Joint Press Corps
“This step harnesses Korea’s world-class shipbuilding energy and ensures that our most deadly capabilities stay prepared to reply to any disaster. We additionally plan to increase this cooperation to floor tools upkeep.”
In the course of the press convention, Ahn dismissed hypothesis that South Korea could search its personal nuclear program. “There’ll by no means be nuclear weapons growth in South Korea,” he stated.
“Korea is a member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which prohibits us from possessing nuclear arms. The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula stays an unwavering dedication.”
When requested if Seoul sought the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to the peninsula, Ahn responded, “Since South Korea can not possess nuclear weapons, the Mixed Nuclear Integration (CNI) system was established to combine the U.S.’ nuclear capabilities with South Korea’s standard forces.”
Ahn stated the assembly reaffirmed “the stable navy alliance and mixed protection posture” between the 2 nations.
“Primarily based on mutual belief and cooperation, we mentioned methods to reply to evolving safety challenges and to ascertain future-oriented and mutually helpful protection cooperation,” he instructed reporters.
He added that the 2 sides agreed to reinforce coordination in protection know-how and analysis to make sure probably the most superior readiness for each militaries.
The joint assertion of this 12 months’s SCM has not but been launched, because it has to replicate a joint reality sheet in regards to the two nations’ safety and tariff points, which is close to completion. As soon as finalized, it’s anticipated to stipulate follow-up measures for protection modernization and expanded cooperation inside the alliance.
The SCM serves because the highest-level protection coverage discussion board between Seoul and Washington. This 12 months’s assembly got here because the allies push to speed up the switch of wartime operational management from the U.S. to Korea and increase joint deterrence amid regional safety shifts.
