Long road ahead for Korea-US nuclear sub cooperation, says ex-US official

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines still faces a long road ahead despite Seoul's hopes of producing tangible results with Washington, according to Eliot Kang, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for international security and nonproliferation. "It may take more than a year. This is not simply up to the executive branch of the United States government," Kang said during a press conference on the sidelines of the Jeju Forum, Friday. He said the initiative requires significant changes to the fundamental civil nuclear cooperation between the two allies. "In order to have supply nuclear material from the U.S for military use, we must have another separate agreement," he added. "It's probably a mutual defense agreement." His remarks come as Seoul and Washington continue discussions on Korea's goal of acquiring its first nuclear-powered submarine following a security agreement reached by President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump last October. Seoul's foreign ministry on Monday expressed optimism that the two sides can make meaningful progreWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times