Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he has granted South Korea permission to build a nuclear-powered submarine — a project that, according to him, will take place in the United States.
In a post shared on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated:
“I have given them approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine, instead of the old and much less capable diesel submarines they have now.”
The announcement followed Trump’s visit to Asia, where he met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and other regional leaders. During the meetings, Trump said Seoul agreed to purchase significant quantities of American oil and gas.
According to Trump, President Lee had also sought U.S. authorization to reprocess nuclear fuel — a capability currently prohibited under a bilateral agreement — to power submarines capable of tracking North Korean and Chinese vessels for extended periods.
Under existing treaties, South Korea is barred from reprocessing nuclear fuel without U.S. consent. Trump claimed that, under his directive, the project will move forward, with the submarine to be constructed in Philadelphia.
If confirmed, the move would mark a major shift in U.S.–South Korea defense cooperation, potentially reshaping the balance of naval power in East Asia.
