South Korea denies nuclear submarine arms race

(CLO) South Korea said its plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines is not intended to start a new arms race.

The announcement, made on November 3, said they had made it clear to both the US and China that the project was a necessary response to North Korea's nuclear submarine program.

“This is not an attempt to create a new arms race, but the result of convincing China and the United States that North Korea has unveiled its own nuclear submarine, and we must prepare accordingly,” South Korean presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik told reporters.

Advanced nuclear attack submarine HMS Astute. Photo: CC/Wiki

The announcement came after US President Donald Trump said on October 30 that he had approved South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines - a move that would see South Korea join a small group of countries that possess this type of advanced submarine.

National security adviser Wi Sung-lac also said on November 1 that South Korea has asked the United States for help in providing fuel for nuclear submarines for defense purposes, and the United States has agreed in principle.

In response to a question about whether the US would directly supply nuclear fuel or allow South Korea to enrich uranium for military purposes, the South Korean Defense Ministry said on November 3 that the two sides were “still in the process of further discussions” to determine details of the cooperation mechanism.

Source: https://congluan.vn/han-quoc-phu-nhan-chay-dua-vu-trang-bang-tau-ngam-hat-nhan-10316419.html