The Peter Zeihan Podcast Series South Korea and the US Make a Nuclear Deal || Peter Zeihan
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Dec 3, 2025 The recent deal between the US and South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines is a significant development, marking a rare sharing of nuclear technology. The operational advantages of nuclear subs over conventional ones allow for extended missions and stealthy strikes. With only a few nations operating nuclear submarines, this move has broader implications, particularly concerning regional security dynamics. Peter discusses how South Korea's latent nuclear capabilities could lead to a sea-based arsenal, potentially sparking an arms race in East Asia.
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US Backs South Korea's Nuclear-Sub Program
- The US agreed to help South Korea build nuclear-powered submarines, a technology long tightly held by Washington.
- This transfer effectively sponsors a South Korean nuclear propulsion program that could enable submarine-launched nuclear weapons within a short time frame.
Why Nuclear Subs Matter Militarily
- Nuclear submarines can remain submerged for months and offer strategic endurance far beyond conventional subs.
- That endurance makes them superior for sustained covert presence or for hosting long-term weapons platforms offshore.
Size And Geography Reduce Naval Rationale
- South Korea is geographically small and faces North Korea across the DMZ, so traditional naval power is less relevant to its immediate defense.
- The primary military utility of nuke subs for Korea would be offshore weapons platforms rather than blue-water deterrence.