Seoul: The United States has given its approval for South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, following discussions that confirmed the construction would take place within South Korea. This development was confirmed by Seoul's National Security Adviser, Wi Sung-lac, who shared details in a joint fact sheet highlighting Washington's consent. This significant security advancement stems from President Lee Jae Myung's meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump in August and October.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Wi Sung-lac emphasized that the discussions between the leaders were consistently based on the condition that the submarine would be constructed in Korea. He clarified that President Lee explicitly communicated to President Trump South Korea's intention to undertake the construction domestically, negating any plans to build the submarine in the United States. Wi also mentioned that while the construction will occur in South Korea, there may be instances where U.S. assistance is sought during the project.

Following the October 29 summit, President Trump announced his approval for the project, suggesting that the submarine would be built at a shipyard in Philadelphia. Notably, this shipyard is owned by South Korean company Hanwha Ocean. However, there are concerns about the shipyard's capacity to handle the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine. The U.S. has committed to collaborating with South Korea to advance the project requirements, including exploring options for sourcing fuel, as stated in the joint fact sheet.