Trump Greenlights Plan for South Korea to Build Nuclear-Powered Submarine

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he has granted South Korea approval to build a nuclear powered submarine in the United States  a move expected to strengthen the military partnership between Washington and Seoul amid rising regional tensions.

The announcement came as Trump continued his official visit to South Korea, where he met with President Lee Jae Myung for high level talks on defense cooperation, trade, and regional security. The two leaders discussed the evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, including North Korea’s ongoing missile tests and China’s growing naval influence.

“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 added that the submarine would be built in Philadelphia, a city known for its long shipbuilding history, signaling what he described as a revival of U.S. naval manufacturing.

“Shipbuilding in our Country will soon be making a BIG COMEBACK,” the president said.

The decision marks a major shift in U.S.–South Korea defense cooperation. While Seoul has long sought to develop nuclear powered submarines to enhance its maritime defense capabilities, previous American administrations had been reluctant to share the necessary technology due to nuclear non proliferation concerns.

Analysts say the approval could significantly alter the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific, giving South Korea new long range surveillance and deterrence capabilities against potential threats particularly from North Korea and China.

The announcement also comes just hours before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where military expansion and trade are expected to be key discussion points. Beijing, which possesses its own fleet of nuclear submarines, has previously warned against U.S. moves that could further militarize the region.

Trump’s visit to Asia which includes stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea  has focused heavily on defense cooperation, economic growth, and what he has called “a new era of strategic partnerships” across the Indo-Pacific.