Defense: South Korea invests in nuclear-powered submarine

After years of opposition and legal or diplomatic constraints, South Korea will have its new nuclear-powered attack submarine. As the Military Zone website explains, the Land of Morning Calm has been wanting to strengthen its naval capabilities for around thirty years. But until then, South Korea was blocked by agreement 1.2.3 signed with the United States, prohibiting it from enriching uranium to more than 20%, from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel and especially from using fissile material of American origin for military purposes.

In these conditions, it is difficult to imagine the construction of a nuclear attack submarine. But the geopolitical situation has changed the situation, starting with the nuclear ambitions of its neighbor, North Korea. While the 1.2.3 agreement was reviewed last Novemberrecalls Military Zone, Washington has given its agreement for the construction of such a submarine. If Donald Trump had initially assured that construction would be done in the Philadelphia shipyards, this will not be the case.

Operational at the end of the 2030s?

It was the South Korean Minister of Defense himself who confirmed this on November 9. “Haven’t our armed forces been preparing for this for more than 30 years with constant efforts? We believe we have reached a significant level and are close to completing the project, provided the fuel is available.”highlighted Ahn Gyu-back. And if the final assembly of the reactor and the technology of the devices energy conversion are normally long technologies, around ten years, “we can achieve this in a shorter time frameâ€he said.

In recent days, Ahn Gyu-back has confirmed that construction will take place “on the national territory” and with “our own technology”. If the first building is expected in the mid-2030sit should be operational before the end of the 2030s. This SNA must act as a lever for the local economy, but it mainly aims to “to guarantee autonomy and stability in procurement”indicates the plan presenting the project.

Low enriched uranium

Appelé Jangbogo-Nit will create “40,000 highly qualified and stable jobs” and of “fundamentally strengthen regional industrial competitiveness and growth potential”we can read. Notable point of this submarine: the nuclear reactors will operate with uranium weakly enriched (less than 20%)specifies Military Zone. An element which brings it closer to French submarines of the Suffren type. “South Korea will faithfully fulfill its non-proliferation obligations throughout the process of supplying and managing low-enriched uranium.”to Martelé the South Korean Minister of Defense.