World · Singapore Bureau
North Korea criticizes US approval of South Korea nuclear submarine
Pyongyang has condemned Washington's endorsement of Seoul's nuclear-powered submarine programme, claiming it destabilizes the region. The move has also drawn criticism as part of broader US nuclear proliferation concerns under the AUKUS framework.
LSN Singapore ·
North Korea's government has issued a sharp rebuke following US approval for South Korea to develop nuclear-powered submarines, arguing the decision escalates tensions on the peninsula and undermines regional security.
The approval represents a significant expansion of South Korea's naval capabilities and marks a notable shift in US policy regarding nuclear technology transfer to its ally. Pyongyang's ministry characterized the development as a destabilizing move that raises the stakes in an already fraught military environment.
Official statements from North Korea have also positioned the decision within a broader pattern of American nuclear proliferation through multilateral partnerships. The country specifically referenced the AUKUS defence pact—which links the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia in security cooperation—as evidence of what it describes as troubling nuclear policy expansion.
The approval comes amid heightened military posturing in the Korean peninsula, with North Korea conducting regular weapons tests and South Korea strengthening its defence capabilities. The submarine development project is expected to take several years to complete and would give Seoul advanced underwater strike capabilities.