Defense ministry issues public notice of draft bill on nuclear-powered subs

The defense ministry on Wednesday issued a public notice of a draft bill on nuclear-powered submarines, as Korea pushes to build the key vessels in cooperation with the United States.

The proposed special legislation is designed to provide the legal basis for the Jang Bogo N project, under which the country seeks to build at least three 8,000-ton conventionally-armed nuclear-propelled attack submarines by the mid-2030s, fueled by high-assay low-enriched uranium enriched to below 20 percent.

Korea obtained the green light from the U.S. for its push to build nuclear-powered submarines following the summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S.

President Donald Trump in October.

Notable in the proposed bill is a provision stating that the nuclear-powered submarine program is not intended to develop, manufacture or possess nuclear weapons.

It also stipulates that the country will not engage in any act that diverts nuclear materials or undermines the international nonproliferation regime.

The provisions are seen as Seoul's effort to reaffirm that it remains firmly bound to nonprolifera ...