The Nuclear Race Goes Deep: Korean Peninsula Braces for New Confrontation

South Korea is advancing its first plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine, to be named 'Jang Bogo-N', to counter the threat from North Korea. The main obstacle is US approval for uranium enrichment, but President Trump has given his blessing. However, a dispute over the construction site (Philadelphia vs. South Korea) and concerns about Russian technology transfer to Pyongyang complicate the move. China is watching with concern.

South Korea is advancing its first plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine, to be named 'Jang Bogo-N', after a 9th-century naval commander. The submarine is intended to counter the threat from North Korea, which revealed the hull of its first nuclear submarine last year and could threaten Guam, Hawaii, and even the US. The main obstacle is US approval for uranium enrichment, but President Trump has given his blessing. However, there is a dispute over the construction site: Trump stated that the submarines would be built at the Philadelphia shipyards acquired by the South Korean conglomerate Hanwha, while Seoul prefers local construction. Another concern is that North Korea may ask Russia for a full nuclear propulsion system in exchange for military support, or attempt to steal technology through cyber means. China has warned Seoul to proceed cautiously in cooperation with Washington, but China's own expanding submarine fleet worries US allies. In early 2025, China operated 12 nuclear submarines, and from 2021 to 2025 it surpassed the US in the number of vessels launched.