South Korea's defense ministry on Tuesday announced a basic plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines, with the first vessel targeted for launch in the mid-2030s and deployment in the late 2030s or later, El.kz cites Xinhua.
The project will be pushed forward as a national-level program to systematically develop and acquire nuclear-powered submarines, the ministry said in a press release.
Under the plan, South Korea will develop and build the submarines domestically, using low-enriched uranium as nuclear fuel for the submarine reactor.
The submarines are expected to have significantly enhanced operational capabilities compared with existing diesel-powered submarines, including longer underwater endurance and higher mobility, according to the ministry.
The ministry said South Korea will not possess or develop nuclear weapons in any form and will fulfill its nuclear non-proliferation obligations in a transparent and firm manner.
While presiding over a cabinet meeting at the presidential office, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for accelerating the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines as part of efforts to strengthen the country's self-reliant defense capabilities.
"We need to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and drone technologies, and speed up the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines, a core strategy for future defense," Lee said
