South Korea is moving forward with plans to build its first nuclear-powered submarine under the Jang Bogo-N program. The government aims to launch the vessel by the mid-2030s to strengthen its ability to track and respond to growing underwater threats from North Korea.
The project was announced by South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back. According to the Financial Times, the submarine will be designed and built in South Korea, including its nuclear reactor. The vessel is expected to use low-enriched uranium, a fuel also used in France’s nuclear-powered submarines.
The new submarine is being developed as North Korea continues work on its own nuclear-powered submarine. Nuclear-powered submarines can stay underwater for much longer than diesel-electric submarines. This allows them to patrol for extended periods, move faster, and better monitor enemy submarines carrying ballistic missiles.
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The planned Jang Bogo-N submarine is expected to weigh between 7,000 and 8,000 tons, making it much larger than South Korea’s current submarine fleet. It will use a nuclear reactor for propulsion instead of relying on batteries and diesel engines. According to the Financial Times, South Korea chose low-enriched uranium to reduce nuclear proliferation concerns while still achieving long underwater endurance.
If completed, the submarine could improve South Korea’s naval defense and surveillance capabilities. It would help the navy monitor missile threats and strengthen security around the Korean Peninsula. The project could also support closer defense cooperation between South Korea and the United States.
The program still faces major challenges. South Korea must complete complex reactor and submarine engineering, expand shipbuilding facilities, and negotiate with the United States over nuclear fuel supply. Existing nuclear cooperation agreements limit South Korea’s ability to enrich uranium without U.S. approval. North Korea also has technical hurdles, and experts say it has not yet proven that its own submarine has a working naval reactor.
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The project is important because it could change the balance of naval power in Northeast Asia. As both Koreas pursue nuclear-powered submarines, the region may see increased underwater military competition. According to the Financial Times, the success of South Korea’s Jang Bogo-N program will depend on both advanced engineering and continued cooperation with the United States.
