On December 17, 2025, South Korean National Security Council chief Wei Shengluo arrived in Washington D.C. and expressed that in order to promote the construction of nuclear-powered submarines in South Korea, Seoul may need to sign a separate bilateral agreement with the United States to address the restrictions within the current South Korea-U.S. nuclear energy cooperation framework.
Wei indicated that Australia was able to introduce nuclear-powered submarines by signing a bilateral agreement with the United States under Article 91 of the Atomic Energy Act, which allowed for exceptions to be granted. He mentioned that South Korea might also need a similar mechanism, and this possibility will be discussed with the U.S. during his visit.
Article 91 of the Atomic Energy Act authorizes the U.S. president to approve the transfer of military nuclear materials. Australia leveraged this provision to sign an agreement with the U.S., paving the way for the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS security agreement signed by the U.S., UK, and Australia in 2021.
Due to the current South Korea-U.S. Atomic Energy Agreement prohibiting the military use of nuclear materials, South Korean authorities believe that obtaining the necessary fuel for nuclear-powered submarines may require another agreement to address legal restrictions.
Wei emphasized that one of the key objectives of his visit is to expedite the implementation of the “Joint Fact Sheet” announced following the meeting between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Trump at the end of October. The issues covered in the fact sheet include uranium enrichment, spent fuel reprocessing, and nuclear-powered submarine cooperation, among others. He noted that while there is consensus on these issues, concrete measures are still needed to advance the cooperation.
Regarding the establishment of a dedicated negotiation mechanism to support South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program, Wei stated that formal discussions on this matter have not yet begun, but he will seek to accelerate discussions with the U.S.
In terms of the Korean Peninsula situation, Wei stated that the atmosphere of the U.S.-South Korea alliance is positive, providing an “opportunity” for dealing with matters related to North Korea effectively.
He stressed the importance of close coordination between South Korea and the U.S. in handling North Korea policies, and mentioned that during his visit, exchanges of views on regional developments will be considered, including potential communication with the United Nations.
When asked whether the U.S. has relegated the North Korean issue to a “secondary position,” Wei disagreed with this perspective. He expects to conclude high-level meetings with U.S. officials in Washington D.C. before returning via New York, highlighting the importance of direct dialogue between top officials in advancing discussions.
Wei stated, “High-level talks are essential to give this issue the necessary political weight. Ultimately, progress will be much faster when the presidential offices and the White House are directly involved.”