President Donald Trump met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss Seoul’s right to enrich uranium and develop nuclear-powered submarines. North Korea has suggested it will strengthen its nuclear program in response to the US assisting South Korea’s nuclear submarine program.
Following the 30-minute meeting between Trump and Lee, South Korean National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told reporters the discussions included Seoul’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, rights to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel, and the transfer of wartime operational control of Korean troops from Washington.
Washington has approved Seoul’s plan to build nuclear-powered attack submarines, while the possibility of Japan acquiring similar vessels has also drawn support from a US Navy official, enraging North Korea.
In a commentary published by KCNA, international affairs analyst Choe Ju Hyon accused the US of instigating South Korea and Japan to acquire nuclear submarines. “The reality goes to prove that Washington’s plan for ‘AUKUS 2.0,’ which allows the transfer of nuclear technology for munitions to non-nuclear allies, has entered the phase of full-scale expansion,” he wrote.
AUKUS is a trilateral pact between the US, the UK, and Australia. Under the deal, the US and UK agreed to help Australia build a fleet of nuclear submarines. China has also criticized the transfer of nuclear-propulsion technology under AUKUS. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said AUKUS “undermine[s] strategic stability and provoke[s] an arms race in the region.”
In his article, Choe argued that North Korea must increase its nuclear deterrent in response to South Korea and Japan acquiring nuclear submarines. North Korea must “bolster up its nuclear war deterrent means both in quality and quantity without the slightest stagnation and stalemate.”
On Tuesday, North Korea said it successfully tested a new missile of “great significance.” “The Missile Administration of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea successfully tested a new-type weapon, which is of great significance in the rapid technological development of weapon systems,” North Korean state media reported on Tuesday, noting the test occurred on Sunday.
While the state media report did not identify the weapon as hypersonic, photos published by KCNA appeared to show the Hwasong-11Ma, which North Korea has previously described as a hypersonic missile.
According to KCNA, Supreme Leader Kim Un observed the test, remarking, “To acquire such a technology is of weighty significance in the state’s readiness for war and the future development of the armed forces.” He added, “The enemy will know better what such progress means without any explanation in the aspect of military technology,” and “such reality would give the enemy an incurable headache and a very cruel and unavoidable blow.”
Additionally, the talks between Trump and Lee have important implications for the Middle East. The US is demanding that Iran dismantle its uranium enrichment program, arguing that it amounts to a nuclear weapons program.
Nuclear-powered attack submarines require enriched uranium for reactor fuel. While US submarines use highly enriched uranium, South Korea has indicated that it plans to fuel its submarines with low-enriched uranium, under 20% purity of U-235. Wi did not disclose details of the discussion between Trump and Lee, so it is unclear whether Seoul intends to domestically produce the uranium fuel for its submarines.
Wi also noted that Lee and Trump did not discuss South Korea supporting the US operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has attempted to pressure Seoul into joining the coalition. He cited South Korea’s refusal to participate in the war against Iran as part of his reason for scaling back war games with South Korea last month.
