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Gabriela Bernal
Opinion
Gabriela Bernal

How South Korea’s nuclear sub deal with US could torpedo inter-Korean peace

Seoul is clearly prioritising advancing its military capabilities with Washington’s help, rather than improving ties with Pyongyang

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Gabriela Bernal
Dr Gabriela Bernal is a North Korea analyst based in Seoul, South Korea.
South Korea, under President Lee Jae-myung, has repeatedly proclaimed its desire to improve relations and re-engage in diplomacy with North Korea. Yet a landmark agreement with Washington formalised last week reveals a starkly different priority: advancing military capabilities that will almost certainly drive the two Koreas further apart.
The United States has officially approved South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines while supporting Seoul’s efforts to secure uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capabilities. The deal exposes the contradiction at the heart of Seoul’s Korea policy – and suggests inter-Korean reconciliation remains a distant fantasy.

The agreement’s scope is significant. Washington has pledged to support South Korea’s civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing for peaceful purposes, granting approval for the construction of nuclear-powered attack submarines. The US will work closely with Seoul to advance the project’s requirements, including fuel sourcing options.

South Korea reportedly plans to acquire four or more 5,000-tonne conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s, exceeding the 3,600-tonne displacement of its latest conventional submarine, the Jang Yeong-sil. Seoul also pledged to acquire advanced US weapons systems and expand defence industrial cooperation in hi-tech weaponry.

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