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Lee touts securing U.S. consent for nuclear-powered subs as major achievement in summit talks with Trump
Yonhap | English | News | Dec. 5, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes
President Lee Jae Myung highlighted securing U.S. approval for South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines as a significant achievement from his recent summits with U.S. President Donald Trump. Lee expressed a preference for the submarines to be constructed domestically in South Korea rather than at the Philadelphia shipyard in the U.S., citing economic and security advantages. He emphasized that this development enhances South Korea's strategic autonomy and flexibility.
Lee dismissed concerns about the move undermining the international nonproliferation regime, affirming South Korea's commitment to nonproliferation and clarifying that nuclear submarines do not involve nuclear weapons or proliferation activities. He reaffirmed the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as a shared principle and insisted that any nuclear buildup would be counterproductive and invite severe consequences.
On inter-Korean relations, Lee urged that stalled ties between the two Koreas should not hinder efforts to restart talks between the U.S. and North Korea, stating that North Korea primarily seeks security guarantees from the U.S. He offered South Korea’s assistance in creating conditions conducive to dialogue, including scaling down joint military drills with the U.S., in an effort to serve as a "pacemaker" for peace.
Lee also addressed regional issues, expressing South Korea’s intention to remain neutral amid China-Japan tensions and to potentially act as a mediator. While acknowledging historical grievances with Japan related to colonial rule, he emphasized the importance of maintaining cooperation in economic, security, and cultural areas. Regarding Russia’s potential influence on North Korea, Lee noted its limited role due to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Finally, Lee confirmed he contemplated apologizing to North Korea for leaflets sent during a previous South Korean administration but refrained, fearing it might provoke domestic ideological conflicts. He criticized the former government’s handling of military tensions with North Korea, warning of a near outbreak of war linked to martial law attempts.