Building a nuclear sub

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac returned from last week's Washington trip with the news that South Korea and the U.S. will start simultaneous discussions on the construction of Seoul's first nuclear-powered submarine as well as enriching uranium and reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. These areas, currently off-limits for South Korea, were addressed in the joint fact sheet produced after the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in October. South Korea, as one of the world's top five nuclear power producers, has faced restrictions on atomic energy use under the overarching Non-Proliferation Treaty as well as a bilateral agreement between Seoul and Washington. Lee's public request regarding the nuclear submarine and Trump's positive response during the summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, has yielded the initial breakthrough. The realization of these plans, however, faces hurdles including approval by U.S. Congress, as well as concerns about proliferation risks from some parties in Washington and nations in Northeast Asia. The agreement marks