US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he has authorised South Korea to build its first nuclear-powered submarine, marking a major shift in the allies defence cooperation. The announcement came a day after the two countries reached a broad trade deal and held talks during Trumps visit to Gyeongju for the APEC summit.
US PresidentDonald Trumpsaid Thursday he has given approval for allySouth Koreato build a nuclear-powered submarine, a day after the two countries said they have reached a broad trade deal.
Trump met South Korean counterpartLee Jae Myungon Wednesday in the southern town of Gyeongju, where the US leader arrived for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
On Wednesday, Seouls presidential aide said the two countries had reached a broad deal covering investment and shipbuilding, while Trump said the agreement was pretty much finalised.
I have given them approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine, rather than the old-fashioned, and far less nimble, diesel-powered submarines that they have now, Trump said on Truth Social Thursday.
In a separate post, he wrote: South Korea will be building its nuclear-powered submarine in the Philadelphia Shipyards, right here in the good ol U.S.A.
Shipbuilding in our country will soon be making a BIG COMEBACK, he added.
On Wednesday, Lee asked Trump to make a decision to allow us to receive fuel for nuclear-propelled submarines.
We are not proposing to build submarines armed withnuclear weapons; rather, diesel submarines have inferior submerged endurance, which limits our ability to track North Korean or Chinese submarines, Lee told Trump.
The dessert at a luncheon for Trump featured the word PEACE!, according toSeouls presidential office, echoing the two leaders first meeting when they pledged to act as a peacemaker and a pacemaker for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
But tensions with nuclear-armedNorth Korearemain high after Pyongyang brushed aside Lees outreach and instead continued deepening military and economic links with Russia.
And Trump said Wednesday he was not able to arrange a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his visit to the South, ending fierce speculation over a possible summit after years of diplomatic deadlock.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Originally published on France24
