Seoul: South Korea should first assess the extent of its capabilities to build a nuclear-powered submarine before entering negotiations with the United States over its pursuit of the submarine, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Friday. The top diplomat made the remarks during a parliamentary session after Washington affirmed its support for Seoul's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines in a mid-November joint fact sheet outlining summit agreements reached between the leaders of the countries.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the broad agreement is expected to undergo negotiations between the allies to determine specifics, although the negotiations could be a lengthy process. "A rigorous self-assessment of our ability to construct nuclear-powered submarines should come first, covering three major parts: the main submarine hull, the nuclear propulsion system and the nuclear fuel," Cho told the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee session. "Based on that, (we) will draw up a negotiation plan with the U.S. to begin talks," he said.

Currently, a "comprehensive review" is under way to determine whether the South Korea-U.S. nuclear energy pact, which restricts Seoul's uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, should be revised or whether a new clause should be added to the pact in connection with the nuclear-powered submarine development, the minister noted.