American President Donald Trump has given the green light to South Korea for the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine, a historic decision that will allow Seoul to join a select group of nations that possess such vessels. This approval came after a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jae Myung, in the city of Gyeongju, ahead of the Apec summit.
Trump emphasized that the submarine will be built in the United States, at the shipyards in Philadelphia, but did not specify the source of the nuclear propulsion technology. Lee argued that current diesel submarines have limitations in tracking North Korean and Chinese submarines, necessitating fuel for nuclear submarines. Additionally, South Korea plans to build a nuclear bunker to protect citizens from external attacks, with completion scheduled for 2028. This decision marks a significant shift in South Korea's defense policy, which has been restricted by the U.S. for decades.