Why it matters:
South Korea has pressed for decades to expand its nuclear capabilities for both energy security and military deterrence. U.S. backing now provides Seoul with unprecedented political cover as it pursues access to technology that has long been restricted under existing bilateral agreements.
The big picture:
A newly released White House document outlines the outcomes of recent meetings between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, first in Washington in August and then in Gyeongju ahead of last month’s APEC summit.
It is the first high-level bilateral document issued since Lee took office in June, covering a wide range of trade and security commitments.
- Seoul pledged to invest $350 billion in the United States.
- Washington agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on Korean goods from 25% to 15%.
- The U.S. signaled support for Seoul’s efforts to gain rights previously prohibited under the countries’ 123 Agreement, which limits Korea to peaceful nuclear uses.
What it is saying:
According to the White House document: “In the framework of the bilateral 123 Agreement and consistent with U.S. legal requirements, the United States supports a process that will lead to uranium enrichment and the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in the Republic of Korea for peaceful purposes.”
The document also confirms that the U.S. has granted approval for South Korea to pursue the construction of nuclear-powered attack submarines.
Key points:
- The current 123 Agreement bars South Korea from enriching uranium or reprocessing spent fuel.
- Seoul aims to revise the deal to secure those rights, citing energy-security concerns and growing nuclear-waste stockpiles.
- South Korea views nuclear-powered submarines—which require enriched uranium—as essential for countering rising regional threats, particularly from North Korea.
- Washington’s endorsement marks the culmination of Seoul’s multi-decade campaign to obtain these strategic assets.
- The support aligns with the Trump administration’s push to strengthen allies in the Indo-Pacific amid intensifying competition with China.
Go deeper:
South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines reflects a strategic shift toward longer-range, stealthier underwater capabilities, assets seen as critical for tracking North Korean missile submarines and reinforcing deterrence.
Revising the 123 Agreement would represent one of the most significant changes in U.S.–South Korea nuclear cooperation in decades, potentially reshaping the balance of power in Northeast Asia and drawing scrutiny from China and other regional players.
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M.Majdi - ahmad shirzadian
