By The South Asia Times

SEOUL - South Korea has approved the basic plan for its nuclear-powered submarine programme, taking a major step towards developing a new generation of attack submarines under an agreement with the United States, officials said Friday.

The review committee under the Defence Ministry endorsed the plan for the Jang Bogo N project at a regular meeting, the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a statement, according to Yonhap News.

The programme is scheduled to formally begin in 2027 and aims to develop and build nuclear-propelled, conventionally armed attack submarines using domestic technology and industrial capabilities.

South Korea unveiled the project in May, with plans to launch the first submarine in the mid-2030s and deploy it after the late 2030s.

The programme has been exempted from the preliminary feasibility study normally required for major defence procurement projects, allowing the government to accelerate preparations. The exemption was granted in August, a DAPA official said.

DAPA plans to select a shipbuilder through open bidding in the first half of 2027 and sign a construction contract by the end of that year.

The government intends to procure small modular reactors (SMRs) directly for the submarines' propulsion systems. Seoul has secured US consent to build the vessels using high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) enriched to less than 20 percent.

According to DAPA, the submarines are expected to strengthen South Korea's deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and expand the underwater capabilities of its so-called Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system.

The Kill Chain is one of the three pillars of South Korea's defence strategy against North Korean military threats.

The total programme budget has yet to be finalised, as discussions are ongoing. Media reports have suggested that Seoul plans to build at least three submarines, each weighing around 8,000 tonnes, at an estimated total cost of 28.9 trillion won (US$21.3 billion).

- South Korea advances other defence programmes

The review committee also approved a plan for the second block of the Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile-I (KTSSM-I), designed to improve the country's ability to counter North Korean artillery.

The upgraded missile is expected to have a range approximately 30 percent greater than the original Block-I version, known as Ure. The system, also called the "artillery killer," is designed to rapidly neutralise North Korean long-range artillery threatening the Seoul metropolitan area.

The programme is scheduled to run from 2028 to 2035, with an estimated budget of 537 billion won.

The committee also approved a revised plan for mass production of the Tactical Multiband Multirole Radio (TMMR) system to improve military communications.

Other measures endorsed at the meeting include replacing an ageing presidential helicopter with the S-92A Plus, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, replacing harbour patrol boats and upgrading an unmanned surface vehicle designed for mine clearance.

The decisions reflect South Korea's broader efforts to strengthen its military capabilities amid persistent security tensions with North Korea.