Seoul: People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo has pledged to develop nuclear-powered submarines if elected, in response to the nuclear threat posed by North Korea. Unveiling his election pledges ahead of the June 3 presidential election, Kim emphasized that South Korea will "never recognize" North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Moon-soo expressed his commitment to taking all necessary measures to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance and enhance nuclear deterrence. He promised to reinforce the country's three-axis deterrence system against North Korean nuclear and missile threats, ensuring that South Korea secures sufficient retaliatory capabilities, including ballistic missiles.

Furthermore, Kim proposed the inclusion of a nuclear attack protection clause in the South Korea-U.S. mutual defense treaty. He also suggested revising the allies' civil nuclear energy cooperation pact to advance South Korea's uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing technology to a level comparable to Japan, while remaining within the boundaries of peaceful use.