South Korea plans to launch its first domestically built nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-2030s and deploy it by the late 2030s, according to a development plan announced by the government on the 26th.

The Ministry of National Defense presented the Basic Plan for the Development of Nuclear-Powered Submarines during a Future Defense Strategy Committee meeting in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. The program has been named the Jangbogo N Project.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back reported the plan at the meeting, which was attended by President Lee Jae Myung. He said the submarine would play a key role in responding to North Korea’s submarine-based nuclear and missile threats.

Ahn said the vessel would help realize a maritime Kill Chain by allowing South Korea to monitor and track North Korean submarine forces with greater stealth and speed than diesel-powered submarines.

The ministry said the submarine would be developed and built in South Korea using domestic reactor and shipbuilding technologies. It will use low-enriched uranium fuel with enrichment below 20%.

The fuel decision is interpreted as a measure to address concerns linked to highly enriched uranium, which is commonly associated with nuclear weapons.

The project follows the Joint Fact Sheet announced in November last year, which covered South Korea-U.S. agreements on trade and security. Under the document, the U.S. would approve South Korea’s construction of a nuclear-powered submarine, while both countries would cooperate closely on fuel procurement.

Details such as the construction site were not included and remain subject to further discussions.