South Korea says pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines not intended to fuel arms race
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
South Korean national security adviser Wi Sung-lac said on Nov 1 that Seoul had asked for US help so it could use fuel for its proposed nuclear-powered submarines.
PHOTO: EPA
Follow topic:
SEOUL – South Korea on Nov 3 said its push to obtain nuclear-powered submarines was not intended to fuel a broader arms race, and that it had reassured Washington and Beijing that they were needed to respond to North Korea’s submarine programme.
US President Donald Trump said on Oct 30 that he has given South Korea approval
“It is not to generate more of an arms race... but the result of persuading China and the US that North Korea has announced (its own) nuclear submarines and we need to prepare correspondingly,” presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik told reporters.
South Korean national security adviser Wi Sung-lac said on Nov 1 that Seoul had asked for US help so it could use fuel for its proposed nuclear-powered submarines, since it would be for military purposes, and the US had approved it.
Asked whether that meant the US would supply fuel for nuclear-powered submarines or if South Korea could enrich uranium for military purposes, the spokesperson for South Korea’s Defence Ministry on Nov 3 said more discussion was needed between Washington and Seoul on the issue. REUTERS
