Seoul unveils plan for indigenous nuclear-powered submarines

A visualisation of South Korea's future nuclear submarine seen in a video published by the MND. (South Korea MND)

Seoul has announced plans to build an indigenous class of nuclear-powered submarines, with official imagery suggesting the vessels will take on a broader spectrum of strike roles than South Korea's current fleet of conventional boats.

Plans for the programme were announced by South Korea's Ministry of National Defence (MND) on 26 May. The programme has been designated the ‘Jangbogo N Project', reflecting its positioning as a next-generation evolution of the country's submarine force.

In its statement, the MND described nuclear-powered submarines as systems that would provide “dramatically improved operational capabilities” compared with diesel-electric boats.

The ministry stated that these capabilities would play a key role in responding to North Korea's submarine-based nuclear and missile threats, directly linking the requirement to evolving security dynamics on the Korean Peninsula.

The class will be developed domestically and will draw on South Korea's experience in nuclear engineering and shipbuilding, the ministry said. It will also utilise low-enriched uranium and be designed for long-cycle operations to minimise refuelling requirements.

The project will be managed on a full life-cycle basis, covering design, construction, operation, maintenance, fuel management, and eventual dismantling, the MND said.

The MND has not disclosed configuration-level details of the submarine in its formal statements.

However, imagery shown in a ministry-released video appears to depict a large, streamlined submarine with a clean outer hull, sail-mounted diving planes, and a cruciform stern.

The aft section appears to incorporate a shrouded pump-jet propulsor rather than a conventional propeller arrangement.