South Korea confirmed Tuesday that it has notified the International Atomic Energy Agency of its intention to hold consultations over its nuclear-powered submarine program and submitted the required declarations, as Seoul moves to establish a safeguards arrangement with the UN nuclear watchdog.
"The government has notified the IAEA of its intention to hold consultations regarding the nuclear-powered submarine program, in accordance with its international agreement with the agency, and has submitted the required declarations," a Seoul Foreign Ministry official said Tuesday.
The official added that Seoul would continue consultations with the IAEA under the principle of faithfully fulfilling its international nuclear nonproliferation obligations, including those under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Korea-IAEA Safeguards Agreement.
The confirmation came after IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told the agency's Board of Governors in Vienna on Monday that South Korea had formally approached the agency regarding safeguards for the use of nuclear material in naval propulsion.
"With regard to nuclear-powered submarines, the Republic of Korea has formally notified the Secretariat of its intention to start consultations with the Agency on an arrangement pursuant to Article 14 of its comprehensive safeguards agreement (CSA) and reiterated its commitment to fulfill its obligations under the NPT, the CSA and the Additional Protocol," Grossi's statement uploaded on the IAEA website read. "In this regard, the Republic of Korea has already provided the Secretariat with the relevant declarations. I look forward to the continuation of our consultations in the same spirit of transparency."
Article 14 is particularly relevant to South Korea's submarine ambitions, as it sets out procedures for nuclear material normally subject to IAEA safeguards to be used in certain military activities that do not involve nuclear weapons, including naval nuclear propulsion.
Such use requires an arrangement with the IAEA governing the nuclear material while ensuring that it is not diverted to nuclear weapons or other prohibited purposes.
The development marks a formal step in Seoul's efforts to address safeguards requirements as it lays the groundwork for developing conventionally armed submarines powered by nuclear reactors.
The project gained momentum following security agreements reached by President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump at their summit in October 2025.
As a non-nuclear-weapon state under the NPT, South Korea is prohibited from diverting nuclear material to nuclear weapons. Its nuclear activities are subject to a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA aimed at verifying compliance with its nonproliferation commitments.
Naval nuclear propulsion presents a particular safeguards issue because nuclear material used for such purposes can, under Article 14, be subject to a special arrangement with the agency while being used in a nonproscribed military activity.
Grossi said in June that discussions with South Korea over an Article 14 arrangement were still at an early stage. He also expressed confidence that a sufficiently robust arrangement between Seoul and the agency could address potential proliferation concerns surrounding the submarine program.
South Korea aims to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine in the mid-2030s and put it into naval service later in the decade.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com
