Race for submarine power: South Korea wants its first nuclear submarine by the 2030s

South Korea announced on Tuesday its ambition to commission its first nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-2030s, a strategic project aimed at bolstering its military capabilities against regional threats, particularly those emanating from North Korea.

According to South Korean officials, this program is part of a defense strategy aimed at countering the risks posed by North Korean nuclear submarines and ballistic missiles. Seoul has been seeking for several years to join the very select group of countries possessing this advanced propulsion technology.

The project has been presented as a major initiative likely to alter the security balance in Northeast Asia. South Korean authorities believe it could also contribute to intensifying submarine military competition in the region.

President Lee Jae-myung told a defense strategy committee that the future submarine would symbolize strengthened cooperation between South Korea and the United States. He emphasized that this partnership aimed to guarantee stability and security on the Korean Peninsula.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the vessel will use low-enriched uranium fuel and will be entirely developed and built in South Korea. Authorities assert that the program will comply with international nuclear non-proliferation rules, a sensitive issue for the international community.

This project is part of a rapid modernization of the South Korean armed forces, while Pyongyang continues to develop its own military capabilities, particularly submarine and ballistic missiles. Tensions between the two Koreas thus continue to fuel an arms race in the region.

If the announced timetable is respected, South Korea would join a very limited group of powers with nuclear-powered submarines, alongside the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France.