The following is the Republic of Korea’s Nuclear-powered Submarine Initiative, published May 26, 2026, by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of National Defense. The Chang Bogo N Project, named after the country’s first submarine, plans to get the first nuclear attack boat in the water by the mid-2030s and achieve operational status by the end of the decade, USNI News reported.
From the Report
Foreword
In November 2025, the Republic of Korea and the United States agreed to further deepen bilateral military cooperation and jointly respond to the rapidly evolving security environment. The two countries also reached a shared understanding to cooperate on the construction of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, which will serve as a strategic national asset for the Republic of Korea, and announced the details through the Joint Fact Sheet.
Through this announcement, the United States officially expressed its commitment to work closely with the Republic of Korea to advance requirements for the construction of nuclear-powered submarines. In particular, the two countries agreed to closely consult on avenues to source fuel for these submarines. This is significant in that it goes beyond a simple policy alignment and concretely defines the direction of practical cooperation.
With this understanding, the Republic of Korea has established a policy foundation to pursue the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines as a national-level project. This represents a meaningful advancement that will not only qualitatively enhance the Republic of Korea’s maritime security capabilities but also elevate the strategic cooperation of Republic of Korea–United States alliance to a new level.
The nuclear-powered submarines that the Republic of Korea seeks to develop are not strategic nuclear submarines equipped with nuclear weapons, but rather nuclear-powered submarines designed to operate conventional weapons. The objective of this project is to enhance operational endurance and survivability, thereby strengthening maritime security capabilities and achieving a higher level of deterrence, particularly in relation to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). It is entirely unrelated to the possession or use of nuclear weapons.
The Republic of Korea has faithfully upheld its international obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which forms the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. With regard to the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines, the Republic of Korea will apply the highest non-proliferation standards, ensure transparency and credibility, and cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in accordance with relevant international agreements.
This initiative presents the direction and procedures for the Republic of Korea to systematically develop nuclear-powered submarines. The development of such submarines is a national undertaking that requires the integration of multiple sectors, including defense, diplomacy, nuclear energy, science and technology, and must be pursued in a phased manner from a mid- to long-term perspective.
We will call the Republic of Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program as the “Chang Bogo N Project” and promote it as a national strategic initiative. This project represents a Next-generation model that inherits the spirit of the Republic of Korea’s first submarine, ROKS Chang Bogo, while incorporating Nuclear propulsion and advanced Neo technologies.
The Chang Bogo N Project has now set sail for its full-scale journey. We expect that all future processes will proceed without disruption through thorough planning and responsible execution, and that this project will stand as a historic milestone in opening a new horizon for the Republic of Korea’s maritime security.
Ahn Gyu-Back
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