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Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker pose for a commemorative photo before the start of an inaugural meeting on follow-up consultations regarding the security-related measures in the joint fact sheet from the South Korea–U.S. summit, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Annex Building of the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. / Yonhap News

The government said on the 9th that South Korea and the United States shared the view during a launch meeting for the implementation of the South Korea–U.S. Joint Fact Sheet (JFS) agreed last week that South Korea’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines represents an important capability to be secured at the level of the alliance. It also emphasized that discussions on nuclear submarines were conducted on the premise of “domestic construction.”

A Foreign Ministry official told reporters that the U.S. delegation did not raise any particular objections regarding domestic construction of nuclear-powered submarines during the consultations. Although U.S. President Donald Trump had previously indicated via social media that a U.S. shipyard such as the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard could be a possible construction site, working-level discussions between Seoul and Washington were based on construction in South Korea. The official added that both sides share the view that South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarines are an important allied capability to strengthen South Korea’s leading role in the defense of the Korean Peninsula, and that they are intended to enhance security in response to the regional security environment rather than target any specific country.

Regarding consultations on expanding South Korea’s uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing rights, the official said that both sides agreed that strengthening the Korea–U.S. nuclear energy partnership serves mutual interests and decided to begin detailed discussions to that end. To expand such rights, South Korea faces the challenge of overcoming constraints under the Korea–U.S. Atomic Energy Agreement (the “123 Agreement”). Diplomatic sources noted that options being discussed include a full or partial revision of the agreement or the enactment of a separate special law. The official explained that the JFS discussions should be understood in a broad sense as aimed at strengthening nuclear cooperation and effectively revising the existing “123 Agreement.”

The JFS launch meeting, held over one night and two days starting on the 2nd, took place after a delay of about seven months, but was reportedly conducted in a positive atmosphere. According to the Foreign Ministry official, impressions included that “the U.S. side was sincere in the consultations” and that the meetings proceeded in a constructive tone. It was also reported that Foreign Minister Cho Hyun made an unannounced visit to a luncheon with the working-level delegation on the second day, the 3rd, to offer encouragement.

However, the government is carefully considering variables such as detailed negotiation points, concerns over potential conflict with non-proliferation norms within the United States, and the unpredictability of U.S. President Donald Trump. The official stated that “what is most important is South Korea’s overall perception of non-proliferation, and efforts must be made to avoid sending unnecessary messages.” President Lee Jae-myung’s remarks during his first-anniversary press conference on the 8th, calling nuclear armament rhetoric “truly irresponsible,” were also interpreted in this context.

The government is currently coordinating the schedule for follow-up JFS discussions with the United States. The official said that both sides agreed to accelerate consultations, adding that several full meetings led by the National Security Councils (NSC) of both countries are expected, along with frequent working-level consultations across different sectors.

                                                                                                            Mok Yong-jae