US allows South Korea to build nuclear submarines – Trump
Tengrinews.kz – U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has granted South Korea permission to build nuclear-powered submarines.
The American leader made the statement on Thursday, October 30, via his Truth Social account.
“Our Military Alliance is stronger than ever before and, based on that, I have given them approval to build a Nuclear Powered Submarine, rather than the old-fashioned, and far less nimble, diesel-powered submarines that they have now,” he wrote.
According to Trump, South Korea agreed to pay the U.S. $350 billion in exchange for tariff reductions.
“Additionally, they have agreed to buy our Oil and Gas in vast quantities, and investments into our Country by wealthy South Korean Companies and Businessmen will exceed $600 billion,” he added.
Trump also stated that South Korea would build its nuclear submarine at shipyards in Philadelphia.
According to NBC News, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung had previously asked Trump during talks to allow his country to use fuel for nuclear-powered submarines.
“I hope you will make a decision to allow us to have supply for nuclear-powered submarines,” Lee said, adding that this would enable Seoul to build submarines to protect waters around the Korean Peninsula and ease the operational burden on U.S. forces.
Lee Jae-myung emphasized that South Korea would not use the fuel to create submarines with nuclear weapons, noting that the request was made due to the limited capabilities of diesel-powered submarines in underwater navigation.
The report notes that this statement is part of Seoul’s broader effort to revise its nuclear agreement with the U.S., which currently allows uranium enrichment only up to 20% with Washington’s approval and prohibits the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.
Previously, the U.S. had opposed South Korea’s repeated attempts to develop nuclear submarines due to concerns over nuclear proliferation.
Trump is currently on a state visit to South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
The American leader made the statement on Thursday, October 30, via his Truth Social account.
“Our Military Alliance is stronger than ever before and, based on that, I have given them approval to build a Nuclear Powered Submarine, rather than the old-fashioned, and far less nimble, diesel-powered submarines that they have now,” he wrote.
According to Trump, South Korea agreed to pay the U.S. $350 billion in exchange for tariff reductions.
“Additionally, they have agreed to buy our Oil and Gas in vast quantities, and investments into our Country by wealthy South Korean Companies and Businessmen will exceed $600 billion,” he added.
Trump also stated that South Korea would build its nuclear submarine at shipyards in Philadelphia.
According to NBC News, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung had previously asked Trump during talks to allow his country to use fuel for nuclear-powered submarines.
“I hope you will make a decision to allow us to have supply for nuclear-powered submarines,” Lee said, adding that this would enable Seoul to build submarines to protect waters around the Korean Peninsula and ease the operational burden on U.S. forces.
Lee Jae-myung emphasized that South Korea would not use the fuel to create submarines with nuclear weapons, noting that the request was made due to the limited capabilities of diesel-powered submarines in underwater navigation.
The report notes that this statement is part of Seoul’s broader effort to revise its nuclear agreement with the U.S., which currently allows uranium enrichment only up to 20% with Washington’s approval and prohibits the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.
Previously, the U.S. had opposed South Korea’s repeated attempts to develop nuclear submarines due to concerns over nuclear proliferation.
Trump is currently on a state visit to South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.