ROK MoND
South Korea aims to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine in the mid-2030s
The reactor on South Korea’s first nuclear-powered submarine will use low-enriched uranium, and the reactor will be designed to allow long-cycle operation to minimize the replacement of nuclear fuel.
The South Korean Ministry of National Defense has just unveiled the plan to build its first nuclear-powered submarine in the country.
Baptism Jangbogo-N Project, the program will last for four decades and envisages launching the first vessel into the sea within about ten yearsso that it enters service shortly before 2040.
Jang Bogo was a powerful 9th-century Korean warlord, maritime trader, and naval commander known as the “King of the Yellow Sea”.
The announcement highlights a profound shift by South Korea, towards guaranteeing full defensive autonomy in the face of the military threat from North Korea.
By replacing traditional diesel engines with a reactor nuclearthe new vessel will be able to neutralize maritime threatsremaining submerged for much longer periods and moving at a much higher speed.
The South Korean President, Lee Jae-myungpublicly supported the rapid introduction of these ships, as part of a broader effort to bolster the country’s maritime capability without depending on foreign powers.
At the center of this machine will be a reactor designed to operate continuously, avoiding frequent fuel refillsnote or .
In the official statement, the Ministry of National Defense details the engineering of the system to ensure this prolonged operation: “Firstly, the nuclear fuel for the reactor of the nuclear propulsion submarine will use low-enriched uranium, and the reactor will be developed in such a way as to allow operation of long cyclein order to minimize the replacement of nuclear fuel.”
The use of low-enriched uranium, with a purity of less than 20%, is equivalent to use slow-burning coal instead of gunpowder: generates the constant heat necessary to move the turbines, but is useless for making a bomb.
To realize this concept, Seoul will rely exclusively on its powerful shipbuilding industry and its civil nuclear sectoran economic option that will boost local production centers and create tens of thousands of well-paying jobs.
The entire life cycle of the machinewill be managed entirely within South Korean borders. From the first drawings and physical assembly to the submarine’s daily use, maintenance and future dismantlement, South Korea decided to avoid heavy dependence on foreign technology, to protect its own military and industrial secrets.
Diplomacy under pressure
The handling of fissile material always raises international geopolitical alarms, so the Asian Government outlined a immovable red line to reduce any political sensitivity and align the program with international non-proliferation norms.
To reassure the international community, the Ministry of National Defense was adamant: “Firstly, the Republic of Korea maintains the firm position that does not possess nuclear weapons in any form and that it will not develop nuclear weapons.”
A The designation “nuclear submarine” refers to its propulsionbased on a nuclear reactor rather than a , and does not necessarily imply that it is a nuclear attack submarinethat is, that carries or can fire nuclear weapons.
To ensure this operational transparency, Seoul will maintain a permanent dialogue with Washington on the acquisition and management of all radioactive materials necessary.
Additionally, South Korea will work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to create a safeguards system designed specifically for this submarine program, establishing a permanent audit that ensures the peaceful use of technology.
The name given to the project, which requires a decade of construction followed by three decades of active operation, has a significant historical weight.
“This name means inherit the spirit of the first submarine of the Republic of Korea, the ROKS Jangbogo (SS-061), while building a new generation model, applying nuclear propulsion and integrating new advanced technologies”, explained the Ministry of National Defense.
