The submarine 'Le Temeraire' (The Temerarious) at the Nuclear submarines Navy base of Ile Longue in Crozon, near Brest, France, 02 March 2026. Photo by YOAN VALAT / EPA
Aug. 4 (Asia Today) -- South and North Korea are simultaneously pursuing nuclear-powered submarines, raising the prospect of an undersea arms race that could reshape the security landscape around the Korean Peninsula.
The Financial Times reported July 28 that the competition could extend beyond inter-Korean tensions and affect the wider balance of maritime power between the United States and China in Northeast Asia.
South Korea is moving ahead with its Jang Bogo-N program with U.S. backing, while North Korea is seeking a technological breakthrough through its expanding military relationship with Russia.
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, who publicly announced the program May 26, said the government aims to launch the lead vessel in the mid-2030s.
