Trump Approves South Korea Nuclear Submarine Plan

President Donald Trump announced during a meeting with South Korean President Lee that he approved South Korea’s plan to build nuclear-powered submarines at the Hanwha-owned Philadelphia shipyard and said the U.S. would share nuclear‑propulsion technology. The announcement accompanied pledges of major South Korean investments in the U.S., including a reported $5 billion Hanwha plan and wider commitments tied to a roughly $350 billion tariff/energy and investment arrangement. Analysts and officials warned the Philadelphia facility is a commercial yard not set up for nuclear work and noted U.S. submarine construction already faces multi‑year delays, supply‑chain strains and workforce shortfalls. The plan raises sensitive proliferation and regional security questions — potentially affecting Japan’s defense posture and drawing concern from China and North Korea. Key details including timelines, costs, the exact scope of technology transfer and any assistance on enriched fuel remain unclear, and significant technical, legal and proliferation hurdles must be resolved before construction can proceed.