Link to Article : https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-powered-submarine-trump-south-korea-ce3ad17d6288573696bf42ca089e76c5
The United States will share technology to allow South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine. South Korean President, Lee Jae Myung, said that the goal was to modernize the alliance with the U.S. He noted that there are plans to increase military spending to reduce the financial burden on America. The South Korean leader said that there could have been a misunderstanding when he and President Trump spoke in August. His government is looking for nuclear fuel rather than nuclear weapons. South Korea’s current diesel-powered submarines are limited when tracking other countries’ submarine activities. If South Korea was equipped with nuclear-powered submarines they could help U.S. activities in the region.
It is not shocking that the United States is supplying South Korea with nuclear power. This could increase tensions between North Korea, South Korea, and the United States. It could also increase tensions in the region, as other countries may want to increase their nuclear power. Trump stated that he was equipping South Korea with nuclear power ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China has multiple nuclear submarines, and in March North Korea unveiled an under construction nuclear powered submarine. The weapons that North Korea and China have could pose a major threat to South Korea and North Korea.
The main stakeholders involved in this are South Korea and the United States. Since the US and South Korea are allies, I believe that Trump will go through with supplying nuclear power. I think that this will increase the nuclear power and nuclear weapons that North Korea has. They will want to be able to combat what South Korea has. This also involves China, as North Korea and China are allies under a mutual defense treaty.
The IB Global Politics concepts that this involves are interdependence and power. South Korea is relying on the US to provide nuclear power so that they can build their nuclear submarine. South Korea increasing their nuclear power can help them build more weaponry of craft, such as the submarine. The article also brings in the topic of development, since they are developing their craft.