Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, stated that South Korea could consider acquiring strategic nuclear submarines (SSBN) if needed.
On Jul. 11t (local time), during a meeting with South Korean reporters at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, Admiral Paparo stressed the significance of continuously seeking the most effective and efficient methods for the U.S. and South Korea to integrate their forces and enhance their defense capabilities as allies and security partners.
It’s uncommon for a senior U.S. military official to publicly discuss the possibility of S. Korea acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. This remark comes amid growing public opinion in S. Korea that the country should develop its own nuclear capabilities, particularly in light of the close ties between North Korea and Russia. The S. Korean government is likely closely monitoring this statement from a high-ranking U.S. official due to its significance.
Admiral Paparo expressed that everyone desires North Korea’s denuclearization. He emphasized that North Korea’s nuclear advancements are a matter of concern for all parties involved. He explained that if an analysis of submarine operations concludes that it would be effective for S. Korea to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, then this is an option that could be pursued in the future.
Additionally, he pointed out that the U.S. and S. Korea, as equal and strategic partners, established the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) following the Washington Declaration in April of the previous year. This high-level, permanent strategic consultative body has been holding confidential discussions to find strategic solutions to address North Korea’s nuclear threats.
Professor Park Won-gon of Ewha Womans University said, “If the current policy of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which values the S. Korea-U.S. alliance, continues, it can be interpreted that the U.S. might cooperate with S. Korea in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.”
The acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines is currently blocked by the U.S.-South Korea Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation, which prohibits the development of nuclear technology for military purposes. Among non-nuclear-armed states, Australia is the only country permitted to acquire nuclear-powered submarines with U.S. cooperation, achieved through the AUKUS trilateral security pact formed in 2021 by the U.S., U.K., and Australia.
