SHOULD THE UNITED STATES SUPPORT A REPUBLIC OF KOREA NUCLEAR SUBMARINE PROGRAM?

摘要

In response to the progress of North Korea toward a functional submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and the growing maritime assertiveness of China, South Korea has expressed a strong interest in acquiring a fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs).~1 The United States now faces a difficult debate: it must choose whether it will oppose or support the Republic of Koreas emerging SSN program. This article contributes to this debate, discussing how a Republic of Korea (ROK) SSN program could result in strategic risks or benefits, or both, for the United States. The risks of such a policy are readily apparent. First, the project might undermine already-fragile Sino-allied and ROK-Japan relations, damaging regional stability. Second, it might create nonproliferation concerns by expanding the ROK's latent nuclear capabilities. Third, an ROK SSN program would involve major opportunity costs; the resources necessary to fund it inevitably would siphon ROK resources away from investments in other crucial capabilities.~2