A U.S. Navy official said South Korea's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines must be backed by a clear purpose rather than pursued as a symbol of national standing. The remarks are read as signaling that Seoul would need to play a role in the Indo-Pacific to justify owning such vessels.
The official met with reporters from across Asia on the 9th at a naval facility near Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, according to Japan's Nikkei and other outlets on the 11th. If South Korea buys nuclear submarines as a status symbol, that is the wrong reason, the official said, adding that the country needs to find valid grounds for doing so. The official also pointed to the enormous cost of acquiring and operating the vessels.
The official referred to remarks last year by Adm. Daryl Caudle, the U.S. chief of naval operations, who said South Korea would not need nuclear submarines if its navy had no plans to operate beyond the waters around the Korean Peninsula. The comments can be read as suggesting that for South Korea's nuclear submarine ambitions to become reality, discussion must follow on the need for and scope of operations in the wider Indo-Pacific, beyond missions to deter North Korea near the peninsula.
The U.S. Navy later issued an additional clarifying statement, saying military assets should be determined by national security requirements and operational plans. It also explained that operating advanced undersea capabilities effectively requires training specialized personnel and conducting high-level exercises, as well as maintenance infrastructure and sufficient operational proficiency.
