Trump says South Korea has approval to build nuclear-powered submarine

Trump says South Korea has approval to build nuclear-powered submarine
U.S. President Donald Trump at APEC leaders' summit in South Korea, October 29, 2025.
Reuters

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he has approved South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, which will be constructed in the United States, during his ongoing trip to Asia.

Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, saying: “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.”

The approval comes after discussions with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who also secured agreements to purchase vast quantities of U.S. oil and gas. The two leaders finalized details of a complex trade deal at a summit in South Korea on Wednesday.

Under existing agreements, Seoul is barred from reprocessing nuclear fuel for submarines without U.S. consent. The new submarine project is designed to allow South Korea to track North Korean and Chinese vessels for extended periods.

Trump confirmed that the nuclear-powered submarine will be built in Philadelphia, highlighting U.S. involvement in the project.

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