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South Korea aims to launch first nuclear-powered submarine by mid-2030s

By Reuters Reuters
FILE PHOTO: South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back speaks during the joint press conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, following the 57th Security Consultative Meeting at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Lee Jin-man/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back speaks during the joint press conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, following the 57th Security Consultative Meeting at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Lee Jin-man/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Lee Jin-man Reuters

SEOUL - South Korea will seek to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-2030s, under a new programme aimed at countering North Korea's submarine-launched nuclear and missile threats, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Joyce LeeEditing by Ed Davies)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 1:19 AM.

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