GYEONGJU: U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has granted approval for South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, marking a major shift in the country’s naval capabilities. The announcement came a day after Washington and Seoul said they had reached a broad trade deal covering investment and shipbuilding.
Trump met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju on Wednesday ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Following the meeting, Seoul officials confirmed that both sides had “pretty much finalized” the trade agreement, while Trump emphasized that the deal would boost U.S. shipbuilding industries.
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“I have given them approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine, rather than the old-fashioned and far less nimble diesel-powered submarines they have now,” Trump said on Truth Social. He added that South Korea’s nuclear submarine would be built at Philadelphia Shipyards in the United States, calling it a “BIG COMEBACK” for U.S. shipbuilding.
During the meeting, President Lee urged Trump to approve fuel supplies for nuclear-propelled submarines, clarifying that Seoul was not seeking nuclear-armed vessels but rather improved underwater endurance to track North Korean and Chinese submarines.
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Despite the cooperative tone, regional tensions remain high as North Korea continues to expand ties with Russia and rejects Seoul’s peace overtures. Trump also confirmed he was unable to arrange a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, quashing speculation about a potential summit.