South Korean Defense Minister Discusses Nuclear Submarine Plans With U.S. Lawmakers at Shangri-La Dialogue

U.S. House and Senate on May 31, 2026, during a defense forum in Singapore and asked for bipartisan support for South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine project, according to South Korea's defense ministry. Ahn separately met Reps.

Pat Harrigan (R-NC), Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), along with Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE). Yonhap reported that the meetings took place on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue.

"The minister sought congressional support for key alliance issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control, the pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and cooperation in shipbuilding and maintenance, repair and overhaul," the ministry said in a release. U.S. President Donald Trump.

South Korea recently unveiled its road map for the program, aiming to domestically build the boats and launch the first one in the mid-2030s. U.S. at a time of growing uncertainties in regional security.

He explained Seoul's efforts to play a leading role in the defense of the Korean Peninsula. U.S. meetings, Ahn held bilateral talks with defense counterparts from Australia, Singapore and Thailand.

With each side, he discussed efforts to advance bilateral partnerships in defense and the defense industry. The minister also used the meetings to highlight the need to further deepen cooperation in light of North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats and its close alignment with Russia.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back spoke with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles during their meeting on the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, 2026.