{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1888518,
        "msgid": "south-korea-issues-bill-on-nuclear-powered-submarines-1785326186",
        "date": "2026-07-29 17:53:32",
        "title": "South Korea Issues Bill on Nuclear-Powered Submarines",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Defence",
        "summary": "South Korea's Ministry of Defence has published a public notice for a bill concerning nuclear-powered submarines, aiming to establish a legal framework for the Jang Bogo N project. The proposed legislation seeks to build at least three conventionally armed submarines powered by low-enriched uranium, with a target completion in the mid-2030s. The bill explicitly states the programme is not for developing nuclear weapons and mandates compliance with non-proliferation obligations and IAEA safeguards.",
        "content": "<p>South Korea\u2019s Ministry of Defence on Wednesday published a public\nnotice for a bill on nuclear-powered submarines, as Seoul pursues the\nconstruction of such strategic vessels through cooperation with the\nUnited States. The proposed special bill is designed to provide a legal\nfoundation for the Jang Bogo N project, which aims to build at least\nthree 8,000-tonne nuclear-powered attack submarines armed with\nconventional weapons by the mid-2030s. The submarines will use highly\nenriched, low-enriched uranium with an enrichment level below 20\npercent. South Korea received a green light from the US to push for the\nconstruction of nuclear-powered submarines following a high-level\nmeeting between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump\nlast October. A key point in the bill is a provision stating that the\nnuclear-powered submarine programme is not intended to develop, produce,\nor possess nuclear weapons. The bill also stipulates that South Korea\nwill not engage in any actions to divert nuclear materials for other\npurposes or undermine the international non-proliferation regime, an\neffort to affirm its commitment to non-proliferation obligations. The\ndraft law mandates compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty\n(NPT) and full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency\n(IAEA) in implementing nuclear safeguards. It also commits to ensuring\npublic safety and environmental protection from radioactive materials. A\ndefence ministry official noted that the nuclear-powered submarine\nprogramme is the first case where a weapons system is integrated with\nnuclear energy, adding that the current legal framework has limitations\nas it covers various legal domains, including defence procurement and\nnuclear safety management. The proposed bill also calls for the\nestablishment of a strategy committee under the prime minister to\ndiscuss follow-up measures, including the siting of project facilities,\nand requires the defence minister to review the programme\u2019s\nimplementation plan every 10 years. The Ministry of Defence plans to\ngather public feedback until 7 September before submitting the bill to\nthe National Assembly.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/south-korea-issues-bill-on-nuclear-powered-submarines-1785326186",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}