A new special bill would speed Seoul’s nuclear-powered submarine program while legally barring any move toward developing or possessing nuclear weapons.
A Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine cuts through the water in an undated photo. The Korean government expressed interest in purchasing one Los Angeles-class submarine from the United States in 2017, but the proposal fell through.UNITED STATES NAVY
The principle that the nuclear-powered submarine program is not intended to develop, manufacture or possess nuclear weapons will be enshrined in a special bill the government is preparing.
Special provisions aimed at accelerating the project while easing international concerns that the submarine program could lead to nuclear weapons development will also be included.
The Ministry of National Defense plans to soon publish for public comment a draft bill containing those provisions, according to the ministry on Tuesday.
The bill states as its first guiding principle that the program "is not intended for the development, manufacture, possession or use of nuclear weapons and will not engage in the diversion of nuclear materials or any act that undermines the credibility of the nuclear nonproliferation regime."
Although the government has stated it would neither develop nor possess nuclear weapons when it unveiled the basic plan for the submarine program in May, it is the first time the policy was written into domestic law. By codifying the policy, the government aims to underscore its commitment to implementing that pledge.
Seoul is pursuing the Jangbogo-N Project, which aims to develop a Korean nuclear-powered submarine fueled by low-enriched uranium with an enrichment level of below 20 percent. It aims to launch the lead vessel in the mid-2030s and deploy it in the late 2030s.
Although detailed specifications have not been disclosed, military authorities are reportedly pursuing a plan to develop three nuclear-powered submarines with a displacement of 8,000 metric tons each.
The Defense Ministry's bill also sets out other guiding principles. These include compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, cooperation with verification procedures conducted by international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, protection of the public and the environment from radioactive materials and the establishment of nuclear safety standards for nuclear-powered submarines.
President Lee Jae Myung speaks at a press conference announcing the conclusion of a joint fact sheet with the United States on Nov. 14, 2025. The fact sheet included Seoul's request on sourcing fuel for nuclear-powered submarines.NEWS1
The special act also includes provisions that will speed up the nuclear-powered submarine program, including the project being exempt from the mandatory feasibility study required before the acquisition of major weapons systems. The bill also allows the government to shorten research and development and testing and evaluation procedures, and apply different cost calculation standards to defense procurement contracts.
It also provides a legal basis for changing contract periods, contract values and other contract terms after agreements have been signed if delays arise in securing nuclear materials, conducting international negotiations or designating sites for related facilities.
The bill calls for the establishment of a strategy committee, chaired by the prime minister, to deliberate on major issues including nuclear submarine facility locations and financing. The defense minister will serve as vice chair, while the chief of naval operations will serve as an ex officio member.
It also requires the government to formulate and implement every 10 years both a basic plan for the nuclear-powered submarine program and a basic safety management plan covering radioactive waste management and radiological disasters.
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.
