Wi Sung-lac, director of South Korea's Office of National Security, sets out for a visit to the US from Incheon International Airport on December 16. Photo: VCG

South Korea and the US reportedly plan to conduct consultations on the construction of South Korea's nuclear-powered submarines, uranium enrichment, and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel next year. A Chinese expert said on Sunday that South Korea and the US' nuclear-powered submarine plan poses serious threats to nuclear non-proliferation, risks an arms race and undermines peace and stability.

Wi Sung-lac, director of South Korea's Office of National Security, claimed on Saturday that South Korea and the US have agreed to simultaneously conduct consultations in various fields starting next year to implement the agreements reached between the two countries' leaders, including the construction of South Korea's nuclear-powered submarines, uranium enrichment, and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. The agreement was reached during high-level discussions held during Wi's visit to Washington DC from Tuesday to Wednesday, South Korea's Yonhap News reported on Sunday.

During his US visit, Wi met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, according to the Yonhap report.

Wi claimed that the US and South Korea have agreed to conclude a separate agreement based on Article 91 of the US Atomic Energy Act, which allows the US President to authorize the transfer of military nuclear materials, Yonhap reported, noting that this is similar to the solution Australia is pursuing to acquire nuclear submarines from the US within the framework of the AUKUS.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, warned that the South Korea-US nuclear-powered submarine program has a high risk of nuclear proliferation. He told the Global Times on Sunday that the US has made a bad precedent with the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program with Australia, and now a similar case is emerging for South Korea. The US' indulgence of allowing some of its allies to use its nuclear technologies and nuclear fuel will inevitably undermine the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Now that Japan is also hyping its plan to own nuclear-powered submarines, and an arms race over nuclear-power submarines could break out, Song said. He noted that the more countries have nuclear-powered submarines, the higher the risk is for an overflow of nuclear technologies as well as nuclear accidents.

Song further noted that while South Korea is a maritime nation, its coastlines are limited, so it does not really have the need to operate nuclear-powered submarines. The Chinese expert questioned if South Korea wants to use nuclear-powered submarines to challenge other countries' interests only so it can become a so-called major country.

A nuclear arms race will only undermine peace and stability, Song said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has previously weighed in on the South Korean nuclear-powered submarine issue. In response to a related question, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on October 30 that China noted the developments. China hopes that the ROK and the US will earnestly fulfill their nuclear non-proliferation obligations, and do what is conducive to regional peace and stability, not otherwise.