Korea, U.S. wrap up first day of security talks on nuclear-powered submarine

Korea and the United States launched new high-profile talks on Tuesday to discuss the implementation of security agreements, including Seoul's push to acquire nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines, that were reached by their leaders last year.

The first day of the two-day inaugural talks focused on security-related provisions compiled in a bilateral joint fact sheet issued after a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in October 2025, according to the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The meeting is significant in that long-delayed security consultations have finally begun and are back on track,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il said at a press briefing.

“Cooperation and partnership between Korea and the United States in the nuclear sector will help deepen and broaden the bilateral alliance,” he added, stressing the government's commitment to fully implementing the agreed-upon issues.

The two sides also reportedly discussed issues related to Seoul's push to build nuclear-powered submarines, which has been prohibited under a bilateral nuclear pact between Seoul and Washington.

On Wednesday, they are expected to focus on other security issues, such as Seoul's uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capabilities, both of which are needed to supply fuel for its envisioned nuclear-powered submarines.

Other agenda items include the expansion of shipbuilding cooperation between Korea and the United States.

The joint fact sheet, published in November of last year, outlines a range of commitments by both sides, including cooperation in the nuclear sector and other security-related issues, as well as Seoul's pledge to invest $350 billion in the United States in exchange for a reduced U.S. tariff rate.

First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo led the Korean delegation, which comprised officials from the presidential office and the defense, science and industry ministries.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker led the U.S. delegation, which included Ivan Kanapathy, the senior director for Asia at the National Security Council (NSC); Matthew Napoli, the deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation at the National Nuclear Security Administration; and other officials from the Department of Energy and related agencies.

Following the inaugural meeting, co-chaired by Park and Hooker, detailed discussions took place under the direction of the National Security Office at the Blue House and the White House NSC, the Foreign Ministry said.

The kickoff meeting had initially been expected to take place earlier this year but was delayed as Washington focused on other priorities, including the Middle East conflict.

The United States had also raised concerns over delays in Seoul's legislative process for its investment pledge and a probe into the U.S.-listed e-commerce giant Coupang over a massive data breach last year, among other issues.

Despite the delay in launching the consultative body, the two sides have continued working-level discussions and are expected to move quickly into substantive talks at the inaugural meeting, according to the officials.

In a post on X, Hooker wrote that she was “pleased” to launch the discussions “to advance bilateral nuclear cooperation initiatives,” expressing hope for “further deepening and modernizing our cooperation” and “continued progress across the bilateral relationship in the years to come.”

In an interview with Yonhap last week, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said that Korea seeks to revise the bilateral nuclear energy pact — known as the “123 Agreement” — “as soon as possible” to enable uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. The government also hopes to accelerate cooperation in nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding.

Korea is effectively prohibited from enriching uranium and reprocessing spent nuclear fuel under the existing agreement.

Last week, Korea unveiled a road map for developing nuclear-powered attack submarines fueled by low-enriched uranium, with the first vessel targeted for launch in the mid-2030s.

Meanwhile, Hooker held a separate meeting with Jeong Yeon-doo, Seoul's vice foreign minister for diplomatic strategy and intelligence, on Tuesday, during which the two sides exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula and other issues of mutual interest, according to the ministry.

Hooker is also scheduled to hold meetings with Cho and other senior officials, it added.

Yonhap