Seoul: The defense ministry announced on Thursday its intentions to engage in discussions with the United States aimed at securing fuel for South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine development project, with hopes of concluding negotiations within a two-year timeframe. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to bolster South Korea's strategic capabilities amidst ongoing threats from North Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry revealed this plan during a policy briefing to President Lee Jae Myung. The briefing follows Washington's recent endorsement of South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, a move seen as crucial in the context of regional security dynamics. The ministry intends to draft a comprehensive blueprint next year that will outline South Korea's principles for developing these submarines, along with construction plans and its position on nuclear nonproliferation.
To facilitate this initiative, the ministry plans to form a pangovernment body to classify the submarine project as a national strategic priority. Additionally, it will work on establishing safety regulations and ordinances related to the use of nuclear reactors in submarines. The pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines by Seoul comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's approval of the plan during a summit with President Lee at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju.
Securing the necessary fuel for these submarines may necessitate a distinct agreement with Washington, as the existing bilateral nuclear cooperation pact only encompasses Seoul's peaceful use of nuclear energy. Concurrently, the ministry is committed to advancing Seoul's efforts to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States, a goal set for completion by the end of the Lee administration's five-year term in 2030.
The South Korean military is working towards completing the second phase of a three-stage program designed to evaluate Seoul's capability to lead the combined forces of the allies. This is expected to be achieved by the next annual defense chiefs' meeting between the two nations, scheduled for November 2026. In last month's Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth concurred on seeking certification of "full operational capability" next year, marking the second stage of the assessment, and on devising a roadmap to expedite the OPCON transfer.
Historically, South Korea transferred operational control of its troops to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. This was subsequently transferred to the Combined Forces Command upon its establishment in 1978. While wartime OPCON remains under U.S. control, South Korea regained peacetime OPCON in 1994.