The US and South Korea (SK) have reached a deal to build Seoul’s first nuclear-powered submarine at the Hanwha Philly Shipyard (formerly the Philadelphia Shipyard) in the US state of Pennsylvania. The agreement — announced after US President Donald Trump’s meeting with SK President Lee Jae Myung on the sidelines of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit — would involve the transfer of critical technology and nuclear fuel. The announcement was met with mixed political reactions in Seoul, where many still hope for peaceful reunification with the north. It also prompted warnings from Beijing about Seoul’s non-proliferation obligations. What does this nuclear deal mean for the region? And could SK find itself dragged into a conflict over Taiwan? In this episode, we discuss the US-SK submarine deal, Seoul’s foreign relationships and the geopolitical implications for the Taiwan Strait and the wider Indo-Pacific region. *Recorded on November 3, 2025 at 3pm Taiwan Standard Time Host: Wen-Ti Sung Our guests: Liou To-hai National Chengchi University College of International Affairs Adjunct Distinguished Professor Yen-Pin Su National Chengchi University Department of Political Science Professor Chapters: 00:00:00 – US, SK Announce Nuclear Sub Deal 00:01:00 – US To Build SK’s First Nuclear Sub 00:11:32 – Seoul’s Neighbors React to Agreement 00:18:06 – Could Taiwan Conflict Spread to Korea? 00:23:30 – Effect of New Leadership on US Pact?
