President Lee Jae Myung listens to defense minister Ahn Gyu-back's briefing on the ministry's plan on developing nuclear-powered submarines at a comittee meeting held in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday.
South Korea's plans to build nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s will spur a U.S.-allied network of advanced underwater capabilities near the first island chain, strengthening deterrence against potential adversaries such as China and North Korea, analysts say.
The South Korean defence ministry this week announced its basic plans to build the country's first nuclear-powered submarine, giving its first detailed outline of the programme since U.S. President Donald Trump granted initial approval in October.
According to the plan, South Korea will launch the first of the vessels by the mid-2030s and deliver them to the Republic of Korea Navy by the late 2030s.
The submarines, which are expected to be in use for at least 30 years, will be powered by low-enriched uranium instead of high-enriched uranium that could be used to build nuclear weapons.
