President Lee lauds nuclear sub program as 'symbol of commitment to self-reliant defense'

President Lee Jae Myung applauded Korea’s planned nuclear-powered submarine program as "a symbol of our commitment to self-reliant defense," which could also accelerate efforts to reclaim wartime operational control from the United States.

“A nuclear-powered submarine, to be built on the foundation of the strong Korea-U.S. alliance, will symbolize our determination to take responsibility for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula ourselves,” Lee said during the first meeting of the Future Defense Strategy Committee held in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang, on Tuesday.

“It will also greatly contribute to strengthening Korea’s defense industry capabilities.”

Lee stressed that “a truly complete nation is one capable of defending itself through firm, self-reliant national defense.”

He also described the recovery of wartime operational control (Opcon) as “a core element of self-reliant defense,” saying it would further clarify Korea’s status as the main actor responsible for defending the Korean Peninsula.

“Through close consultations with the United States, we will complete a concrete road map for the transfer of wartime Opcon, including its timeline,” Lee said.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back shared the government’s basic plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines.

“The nuclear-powered submarines Korea plans to acquire will be conventionally armed and unrelated to strategic nuclear submarines carrying nuclear weapons,” Ahn said. “Korea will firmly comply with the international nuclear nonproliferation regime while continuing cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA].”

Ahn also presented five principles for the project: using nuclear fuel enriched below 20 percent; developing and building the submarines domestically; pursuing independent construction using Korea’s reactor and shipbuilding technologies; ensuring safety management from construction to dismantlement; and launching the first submarine in the mid-2030s.

Ahn also stressed that Korea has no intention of possessing or developing nuclear weapons, seemingly to ease international concerns that the country’s nuclear-powered submarine program could undermine the global nonproliferation regime.

“Korea will maintain its firm principle of neither possessing nor developing nuclear weapons,” Ahn said. “We will, in close communication with the United States, faithfully carry out nuclear nonproliferation obligations throughout the procurement of nuclear fuel and low-enriched uranium and establish safeguards systems in cooperation with the IAEA to transparently manage and supervise nuclear-powered submarine materials.”

The meeting also included reports and discussions on reclaiming Opcon from the United States.

Ahn said that although Korea possesses strong military capabilities, it remains “the only country among more than 190 nations in the world without wartime operational control.”

“We will complete a road map this year to accelerate the recovery of Opcon and recommend a timeline to the president after finalizing verification of the future Combined Forces Command's [CFC] Full Operational Capability at the 58th Korea-U.S. security consultative meeting this fall, so that the Opcon transfer can be brought into view,” Ahn said.

However, several participants urged caution regarding the transfer process.

“Under the future CFC structure, the Korean general responsible for defending Korea and the commander of the United Nations Command overseeing armistice management on the Korean Peninsula would be separate individuals, so their roles, responsibilities and authority must be carefully defined,” said Cho Kang-rae, a committee member and former commander of the Marine Corps.

Another committee member, Choi Sung-cheon, a former commander of the Air Force Operations Command, warned against rushing the process.

“The government should not move too quickly during the transfer process and risk inadequate preparation or strategic mistakes,” Choi said. “At the same time, Korea should not miss the proper timing by becoming overly bound to evaluation procedures such as Full Operational Capability or Full Mission Capability assessments, where the United States holds the initiative.”

Responding to the concerns, Ahn noted that the U.S. military agreed on many aspects of the transfer.

“The process has been managed more thoroughly, stably, and systematically, so even if Opcon were to be transferred tomorrow, there would be no major problem with Korea defending itself,” the defense minister said.

President Lee then corrected Ahn, saying, “Rather than saying there would be no major problem, it would be more accurate to say there would be no problem at all.” Ahn also corrected his comment.

Lee once again emphasized his commitment to self-reliant defense toward the end of the meeting.

“Thanks to the outstanding abilities and efforts of the Korean people, Korea has joined the ranks of advanced nations in every area, including economic power, military strength and cultural influence,” Lee said. “Yet in national defense, there still seems to be a strong sense of dependency.”

Lee added that the foundation of a nation lies in self-reliant defense, protecting ourselves with our own strength.

“We now have more than enough capability to stand on our own and defend ourselves,” said Lee. “I do not believe there is much disagreement on the need to do so.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY OH HYUN-SEOK [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]