Defense Ministry seeks legal framework for nuclear-powered submarines amid U.S. support
Published: 10 Feb. 2026, 11:27
Updated: 10 Feb. 2026, 18:15
![This undated file photo shows a flag, left, bearing the insignia of the defense ministry. [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/02/10/51415b09-ec86-40c7-b0db-591f2f779a78.jpg)
This undated file photo shows a flag, left, bearing the insignia of the defense ministry. [YONHAP]
The Ministry of National Defense is pushing to propose a special law supporting the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines, sources said Tuesday, as the United States has allowed Korea to secure fuel for nuclear-powered submarines.
As part of the plan, the ministry recently commissioned a research project on the special law, with an aim to begin procedures to legislate the law as early as the first half, according to sources.
Given that building a nuclear-powered submarine requires a massive budget and government-wide coordination in the long term, a special law is seen as necessary to provide the legal foundation for drawing up relevant safety and management guidelines for the use of nuclear power for submarines.
When legislated, the special law is also expected to help establish a regular government-wide task force tasked with introducing the nuclear-powered submarines.
"A special law is necessary to draw up procedures and other measures optimized for the nuclear-powered submarine bid, as there are no such regulations in the existing Defense Acquisition Program Act and Nuclear Safety Act," a ministry spokesperson said.
Washington officially approved Seoul's push to build nuclear-powered submarines and voiced its support for the ally's drive to secure uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capabilities in a joint fact sheet released in November last year following Korea-U.S. summit talks.
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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