US to back South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine ambitions: Video
The United States will actively support South Korea’s plan to develop a nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-to-late 2030s, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth announced in Seoul on Tuesday, October 4.
Hegseth made the remarks during a joint press conference with South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-baek following the 57th US-Republic of Korea Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the Defence Ministry in Yongsan.
“We agreed that these investments would accelerate South Korea’s ability to strengthen its conventional deterrence and defence against North Korea,” Hegseth said. “We also agreed to demonstrate the ability to maintain and repair US warships here in Korea.”
Reaffirming Washington’s commitment to Seoul, he added, “We are focused on standing by our allies here and ensuring the threat of the DPRK is not a threat to the Republic of Korea. We face a dangerous security environment, but our alliance is stronger than ever — 72 years strong.”
South Korea has long sought to pursue a nuclear-powered submarine project, but progress has stalled as Seoul awaited U.S. reactor fuel supply and approval for propulsion technology transfer.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
