Adm. Daryl Caudle, the chief of US naval operations, speaks to the South Korean Ministry of Protection press corps in Seoul on Nov. 14, 2025. (pool picture)
A prime US admiral mentioned it was a “pure expectation” that the nuclear-powered submarines that South Korea is slated to construct can be utilized to “counter China.”
“With that kind of functionality, I feel america would count on that partnership — working as an alliance, collectively, to fulfill our mixed objectives on what america considers to be our pacing menace, which is China,” Adm. Daryl Caudle, the chief of US naval operations, instructed reporters in Seoul on Friday.
Caudle’s feedback got here throughout a gathering with the Ministry of Protection press corps in Seoul that day, the second day of his go to to Korea.
Relating to Korea’s position involving the nuclear-powered submarines, Caudle remarked, “As they are saying within the film ‘Spider-Man’: ‘With nice energy comes nice duty.’ I feel there can be a duty for Korea to deploy these submarines globally and transfer away from simply being a regional navy to a world navy.”
Caudle’s remarks are a far cry from South Korea’s official stance that its pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines isn’t focused at any specific nation.
Throughout the China-South Korea summit in Gyeongju on Nov. 1, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung defined to his Chinese language counterpart that Seoul’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines was not in consideration of any specific nation, however as a substitute a part of the push to extend Korea’s protection autonomy.
Whereas explaining the necessity for Korea to have nuclear-powered submarines to US President Donald Trump in the course of the US-South Korea summit on Oct. 29, Lee mentioned, “Typical diesel submarines have restricted diving functionality, limiting their capacity to trace Chinese language and North Korean submarines.”
When questioned about South Korean submarines getting used to discourage China and about redefining the South Korean Navy’s position within the bigger East Asia area, Caudle mentioned, “I feel to a big extent, Korea shares issues with [regard to] China as effectively, and in order that functionality must be a part of that equation.”
When questioned about US-South Korean cooperation on shipbuilding and the place the nuclear-powered submarines can be constructed, Caudle mentioned, “I feel it’s a query usually for the White Home.”
“How we make the most of the Philadelphia shipyard has but to be decided,” he added. “There’s lots of capability there, and there’s prioritization that must be finished for that shipyard for Hanwha to assist america.”
That deviates from the reason from Lee’s nationwide safety adviser, Wi Sung-lac, made immediately after the announcement of the very fact sheet on Friday.
Wi instructed reporters on the time that talks relating to the situation of the development of the nuclear-powered submarines “have been held from begin to end underneath the premise that they are going to be constructed in Korea,” and the problem of location for constructing the submarines has been “settled.”
Relating to China’s installations within the Yellow Sea’s Provisional Measures Zone, Caudle mentioned, “China’s grey zone actions are regarding globally.”
“This isn’t simply regional waters round Korea. We see one of these exercise across the globe, and we’re very involved about it,” he mentioned.
“There must be a robust deterrence mechanism, or that kind of exercise between our two international locations. A part of that’s presence, , displaying our capabilities. You’ll hear ‘peace by way of power.’ We expect that’s the proper technique for that,” he added.
Caudle distanced himself from Korea’s place on the strategic flexibility of US troops stationed in South Korea. When requested what position US Forces Korea and South Korea’s personal navy would play within the occasion of a navy conflict between Taiwan and China, Caudle mentioned it might be an “all fingers on deck” scenario, calling it “naïve” to suppose that it isn’t essential for varied events to contribute.
“I wouldn’t say what it might seem like particularly, however I’m certain there could be a task,” he mentioned.
This differs from the rhetoric of South Korea’s authorities. On Oct. 13, Protection Minister Ahn Gyu-back instructed the Nationwide Meeting’s Nationwide Protection Committee that he “can not agree” with feedback made by US Secretary of the Military Daniel Driscoll throughout a go to to Korea suggesting that USFK’s position encompassed responding to threats posed by each North Korea and China.
“From South Korea’s standpoint, our prime precedence and our focus have to be on the Korean Peninsula and the North Korean menace,” the South Korean protection minister burdened.
Throughout his four-day journey to Korea, Caudle paid a courtesy name on Gen. Xavier Brunson, the commander of the Mixed Forces Command and US Forces Korea.
On Friday morning, the US naval chief met along with his Korean counterpart, Adm. Kang Dong-gil, earlier than assembly with the Joint Chiefs of Workers chairman, Jin Yong-sung, that afternoon.
On Saturday, Caudle paid visits to shipyards operated by HD Hyundai Heavy and Hanwha Ocean shipyard in Geoje to get an understanding of the capabilities of Korea’s shipbuilding trade.
By Kwon Hyuk-chul, workers reporter; Ministry of Protection press pool
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