PPP pushes presidential oversight for nuclear submarines

Lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Thursday proposed a special bill aimed at supporting Seoul's push to build nuclear-powered submarines.

The bill, introduced by PPP Rep. Yu Yong-weon, calls for establishing a nuclear-powered submarine strategy committee under the president to deliberate on major issues related to the country's nuclear-powered submarine program.

“The current Defense Acquisition Program Act and Nuclear Safety Act have limitations in comprehensively reflecting the unique characteristics of the military's nuclear propulsion systems,” he said during a press conference at the National Assembly.

“The committee should be chaired by the president and include the participation of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to establish a governmentwide system for carrying out the project,” he added.

The bill, signed by 30 PPP lawmakers and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, differs from a government-proposed draft bill unveiled by the defense ministry, which calls for setting up such a committee under the prime minister.

Last month, the defense ministry issued a public notice of the draft bill, designed to provide the legal basis for the Jang Bogo N project, under which the country seeks to build at least three 8,000-ton conventionally-armed nuclear-propelled attack submarines by the mid-2030s, powered by low-enriched uranium enriched to less than 20 percent.

The PPP will seek to have Thursday's proposal included in the ministry's draft bill during the public feedback period, set to last until Sept. 7, before the ministry submits the bill to the National Assembly.

Yonhap