South Korea approves nuclear-powered submarine strategy with feasibility-study exemption
South Korea’s defense procurement agency announced approval of the basic strategy for its domestically developed Jangbogo N nuclear-powered submarine program, which received a feasibility-study exemption on security grounds. The agency plans competitive bidding among domestic shipbuilders, with contractor selection and final contracting scheduled for the second half of 2027. The government will directly develop or procure and supply the small modular reactor and certain key weapons.