Photo Credit: Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME)
June 8, 2026
By Indo-Pacific Defense Forum
The Republic of Korea (ROK) will build its first nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s and commission them by the end of that decade, Seoul’s Defense Ministry announced in late May 2026.
The vessels, conventionally armed and fueled by low-enriched uranium, are intended to counter North Korea’s submarine missile threats. The project will boost deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and benefit the United States and other Allies and Partners by adding an advanced asset in a critical domain.
“The nuclear-powered submarine, which will be built on the basis of a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance, is a symbol of our will to take responsibility for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula,” ROK President Lee Jae-myung said.
The U.S. approved the ROK’s pursuit of nuclear submarines after Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump met in South Korea in October 2025. The ROK Navy operates a fleet of conventional attack submarines, the newest of which have vertical launching systems capable of hosting cruise and ballistic missiles that could strike targets in North Korea. However, Seoul has said their operational range, speed and endurance are insufficient to deal with the North Korean threat, U.S. Naval Institute News reported.
“Nuclear-powered submarines are expected to play a key role in responding to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, based on their ability to remain submerged for an extended period with greater mobility,” ROK Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said.
The Defense Ministry said the submarines could shadow North Korean attack boats as soon as Pyongyang deploys them. In the event of conflict, ROK forces expect to be able to neutralize the regime’s subsurface strike capabilities before launch.
The submarine program is expected to create more than 40,000 jobs in the ROK’s shipbuilding, nuclear and defense industries, with the submarines set to be in service for 30 years.
Separately, the U.S. is working with Australia and the United Kingdom, under the AUKUS security alliance, on a project for Canberra to acquire nuclear-powered submarines that will boost deterrence and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Plans call for Australia to buy Virginia-class submarines from the U.S. and eventually deploy a new class of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, called SSN-AUKUS, jointly developed by the three nations.
A fleet of ROK nuclear-powered submarines offers similar benefits, analysts say.
“The logic mirrors Australia’s decision to acquire nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines under AUKUS. The United States is stronger when its close allies shoulder more responsibility at the high end of military capability,” researchers at the Rand Corp., a U.S.-based think tank, wrote in February. “A Korean nuclear-powered submarine also aligns with the broader alliance goal of balanced burden-sharing. Seoul has shown its willingness to invest in advanced military capabilities that contribute to collective deterrence and nuclear-powered submarines would be among the most consequential.”
June 8, 2026
By Indo-Pacific Defense Forum
The Republic of Korea (ROK) will build its first nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s and commission them by the end of that decade, Seoul’s Defense Ministry announced in late May 2026.
The vessels, conventionally armed and fueled by low-enriched uranium, are intended to counter North Korea’s submarine missile threats. The project will boost deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and benefit the United States and other Allies and Partners by adding an advanced asset in a critical domain.
“The nuclear-powered submarine, which will be built on the basis of a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance, is a symbol of our will to take responsibility for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula,” ROK President Lee Jae-myung said.
The U.S. approved the ROK’s pursuit of nuclear submarines after Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump met in South Korea in October 2025. The ROK Navy operates a fleet of conventional attack submarines, the newest of which have vertical launching systems capable of hosting cruise and ballistic missiles that could strike targets in North Korea. However, Seoul has said their operational range, speed and endurance are insufficient to deal with the North Korean threat, U.S. Naval Institute News reported.
“Nuclear-powered submarines are expected to play a key role in responding to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, based on their ability to remain submerged for an extended period with greater mobility,” ROK Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said.
The Defense Ministry said the submarines could shadow North Korean attack boats as soon as Pyongyang deploys them. In the event of conflict, ROK forces expect to be able to neutralize the regime’s subsurface strike capabilities before launch.
The submarine program is expected to create more than 40,000 jobs in the ROK’s shipbuilding, nuclear and defense industries, with the submarines set to be in service for 30 years.
Separately, the U.S. is working with Australia and the United Kingdom, under the AUKUS security alliance, on a project for Canberra to acquire nuclear-powered submarines that will boost deterrence and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Plans call for Australia to buy Virginia-class submarines from the U.S. and eventually deploy a new class of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, called SSN-AUKUS, jointly developed by the three nations.
A fleet of ROK nuclear-powered submarines offers similar benefits, analysts say.
“The logic mirrors Australia’s decision to acquire nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines under AUKUS. The United States is stronger when its close allies shoulder more responsibility at the high end of military capability,” researchers at the Rand Corp., a U.S.-based think tank, wrote in February. “A Korean nuclear-powered submarine also aligns with the broader alliance goal of balanced burden-sharing. Seoul has shown its willingness to invest in advanced military capabilities that contribute to collective deterrence and nuclear-powered submarines would be among the most consequential.”
This article was published by Indo-Pacific Defense FORUM
About Indo-Pacific Defense Forum
Indo-Pacific Defense Forum is sponsored by the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) and publishes daily online articles, daily social media updates and a quarterly magazine to provide timely updates on the Indo-Pacific security environment.
View all posts by Indo-Pacific Defense Forum →
About Indo-Pacific Defense Forum
Indo-Pacific Defense Forum is sponsored by the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) and publishes daily online articles, daily social media updates and a quarterly magazine to provide timely updates on the Indo-Pacific security environment.
View all posts by Indo-Pacific Defense Forum →
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