South Korea to get nuclear-powered submarine? Donald Trump greenlights project in major policy shift—details here

US President Donald Trump on Thursday gave South Korea the green light to build a nuclear-powered submarine, something that gives Seoul a potential entry into an elite list of nations with such vessels.

This development comes after President Donald Trump met his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday in the southern town of Gyeongju. The US leader arrived there for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Seoul's nuclear-powered submarine is expected to be built at a shipyard in Philadelphia, where South Korean firms have upped their investment.

"South Korea will be building its Nuclear Powered Submarine in the Philadelphia Shipyards, right here in the good ol’ U.S.A. Shipbuilding in our Country will soon be making a BIG COMEBACK. Stay tuned!!! (sic)," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

During the bilateral meeting, the US president also announced that Seoul had agreed to purchase large quantities of US oil and gas.

Trump's announcement marks a significant departure from American policy on nuclear-powered submarines. Although Lee's predecessors had expressed interest in developing nuclear-powered submarines, the US had opposed the idea for decades.

Trump's move, essentially admitting Seoul to the elite club, comes amid stalled diplomatic efforts with North Korea. Trump said Wednesday that he had not been able to arrange a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Earlier, Pyongyang test-fired a cruise missile linked to its 'nuclear forces' ahead of Trump's arrival in South Korea.

When will South Korea get its nuclear-powered submarine?

Although the project has been approved, there is no clarity on when the work will begin.

Reuters reported that officials from South Korea's industry ministry had not been involved in any detailed discussions regarding the building of a nuclear-powered submarine in Philadelphia.

Further, Reuters reported that Trump did not specify the source of the sub's propulsion technology, which only a handful of countries currently possess. The US has thus far only shared the technology with Britain, back in the 1950s.