Bahk Eun-ji has been with The Korea Times since 2012, building a career across multiple desks. She began at the Business Desk, where she conducted in-depth interviews with key figures in Korea's corporate world. Later, she moved to the Politics & City Desk, focusing on education policy and social affairs. She later served as team leader of the digital content team, leading curation efforts on the newspaper’s homepage and reshaping print stories for social media audiences to enhance digital reach. Now back on the Politics Desk, she covers the National Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense, with a renewed focus on political developments.
Seoul wins US support to develop nuclear submarines
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac speaks during a press briefing on the Korea-U.S. summit at the APEC media center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps
By Bahk Eun-ji
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed agreement on the need for South Korea to develop nuclear-powered submarines in response to the changing regional security situation, according to National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac.
Wi told reporters Wednesday that during the 87-minute luncheon summit held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Trump “acknowledged that changing conditions, including North Korea’s construction of nuclear submarines, require South Korea to acquire nuclear-powered submarine capabilities,” and agreed to “pursue follow-up consultations.”
“The two leaders discussed a broad range of issues, including economic and industrial cooperation, alliance modernization, peace on the Korean Peninsula and regional developments,” Wi said.
“The key outcome was confirmation of the U.S. administration’s active support for strategic agenda items aimed at modernizing the alliance.”
Wi added that President Lee Jae Myung “highly valued the role of the South Korea-U.S. alliance in maintaining peace and stability in the region.” He said the president proposed consultations on introducing nuclear-powered conventional submarines, along with a continued increase in defense spending, to strengthen South Korea’s self-defense capabilities and reduce the burden on the U.S.
Trump was quoted as saying that he “appreciates South Korea’s proactive role within the alliance and agrees that the country needs nuclear-powered submarines in view of North Korea’s advancing programs.”
He also suggested holding “follow-up discussions to move the issue forward,” according to Wi.
The presidential office added that Lee had also requested continued U.S. attention to South Korea’s efforts to develop uranium enrichment and nuclear fuel reprocessing technologies for peaceful purposes.
Trump reportedly agreed on the need for greater cooperation in key strategic industries, including nuclear energy.
According to Wi, the two leaders also agreed to establish a new consultative body between their respective National Security Councils to enhance cooperation in shipbuilding and defense manufacturing. Trump was said to have praised Korea’s shipbuilding and manufacturing capacity, suggesting that it could bolster America’s defense industry.
Wi described the meeting as “significant in that it marked the completion of mutual presidential visits between the two countries within five months of the launch of the new administration,” adding that the two leaders “demonstrated a deepened personal rapport throughout the talks.”