South Korea to write nuclear non-proliferation into submarine law

SEOUL – South Korea’s Defence Ministry is moving to prohibit nuclear fuel intended to power submarines from being diverted to nuclear weapons – an apparent move to address proliferation concerns surrounding the programme.The ministry plans to issue a legislative notice for the proposed Bill as early as July 29, according to officials on July 28.“The ministry is establishing the legal and institutional foundation needed to ensure the stable implementation of the nuclear-powered submarine programme,” a ministry official said. “The proposed special act is part of that effort.”Officials said the provision is intended to address concerns that Seoul’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines could pave the way for an independent nuclear-weapons programme or heighten proliferation risks.If enacted, the Bill would mark South Korea’s first explicit statutory prohibition on using nuclear material for the development, manufacture or possession of nuclear weapons.The legislation follows the government’s announcement in May of the Jangbogo-N project, its plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, after President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump agreed in 2025 to move forward with Seoul’s acquisition of such vessels.The non-proliferation pledge will be included in a proposed special act governing the acquisition, operation and safety management of nuclear-powered submarines.The draft Bill sets non-proliferation as a core principle of the programme, barring submarine fuel from being diverted to nuclear weapons development, production or possession, according to officials.It would also require South Korea to comply with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and cooperate with safeguards and verification procedures conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international bodies.South Korea is recognised as a non-nuclear-weapon state under the NPT. The government has said the planned submarines will be conventionally armed and that their nuclear fuel and reactor technology will be used solely for propulsion.The Bill would also allow more flexible cost calculations for defence contracts and permit contract prices, deadlines and other terms to be revised if the project encounters delays, including difficulties in securing nuclear fuel.Under the proposal, a special committee chaired by the Prime Minister would oversee the programme. The Defence Minister would serve as vice-chair, while the chief of naval operations would participate as an ex-officio member.According to sources familiar with the matter, South Korea is seeking to develop three nuclear-powered submarines displacing about 8,000 tonnes each, with the lead vessel targeted for launch in the mid-2030s. The vessels are expected to use low-enriched uranium containing less than 20 per cent of uranium-235.Domestic legislation, however, would address only part of the challenge. Seoul must still secure nuclear fuel and reach an agreement with Washington on how it will be supplied and monitored.“The pace of the project will ultimately depend less on domestic procedural changes than on whether Seoul and Washington can reach an agreement on nuclear fuel,” an industry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK