South Korea

Hankyoreh - E | English | News | Nov. 7, 2025 | UndeterminedPolitics and Elections

Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to visit China in April 2026, following their first summit aimed at improving bilateral relations. This visit is planned after China’s significant political events in March 2026, including the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. If Lee visits in April, it will mark his second trip to China that year, as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit will be held in Shenzhen in November.

US President Donald Trump is also scheduled to visit China in April 2026, potentially adding complexity to Korean Peninsula affairs. A key discussion point between Xi and Lee is likely to be South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, which Lee described as a defensive response to North Korea’s nuclear submarine capabilities. Xi acknowledged this explanation but emphasized the need to accommodate each other's core interests, reflecting China’s official position that calls for adherence to nuclear nonproliferation commitments and expresses concern over South Korea’s submarine program.

Xi had previously withheld confirmation of a visit to South Korea, conditional on Seoul's handling of anti-China demonstrations. After Lee condemned the protests and communicated his commitment to restoring relations, China agreed to cement Xi’s visit. Additionally, the Chinese Embassy canceled a reservation at The Shilla hotel due to US President Trump's decision to bypass Seoul and proceed directly to Busan for his summit with Xi.

38 North | English | AcademicThink | Nov. 7, 2025 | North Korea

At North Korea's October 11 military parade, the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was prominently displayed, highlighting the regime's expanding strategic capabilities. However, an important but less visible component of North Korea's nuclear arsenal is its development of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), which offer a more survivable nuclear deterrent. Currently, North Korea lacks submarines large enough to carry these SLBMs, as its fleet is primarily composed of older, smaller submarines based on 1950s Romeo-class designs. To address this, Pyongyang is building a much larger, reportedly nuclear-powered submarine, with North Korean media showing the hull to Kim Jong Un in April 2025.

There are credible reports that Russia is supplying North Korea with nuclear propulsion technology for these submarines, potentially including reactor compartments, steam turbines, and cooling systems, likely sourced from decommissioned Russian nuclear submarines. South Korea's Defense Minister confirmed that North Korea is "likely receiving various technologies" from Russia for its submarine program. This technology transfer aligns with broader Russian-North Korean exchanges, including military support in the Ukraine conflict and supply of Russian oil products. Past cooperation includes the mid-1990s supply of obsolete Soviet Golf-class submarines to North Korea, which helped advance Pyongyang's SLBM capabilities.

Russia is dismantling several classes of nuclear submarines near Vladivostok, including Akula-class boats. Satellite imagery from early 2025 shows activity at these shipyards, suggesting possible removal of nuclear propulsion systems for transfer. The Akula-class submarines, such as the Nerpa, use OK-650B pressurized water reactors producing 190 megawatts, capable of powering nuclear submarines with enhanced stealth and endurance. Russia’s assistance could accelerate North Korea’s nuclear submarine program, either by direct installation of reactors or by providing designs and components for domestic development.

The acquisition of nuclear propulsion would significantly improve North Korea’s deterrent by enabling submarine deployments with extended range and reduced detection risk, allowing missiles to threaten distant targets such as the mainland United States from the North Pacific. This emerging capability underlines a growing submarine threat in the region, prompting calls for South Korea and Japan to develop or acquire nuclear-powered submarines to maintain strategic balance. Although operational deployment of North Korean nuclear submarines is still years away, ongoing developments indicate significant progress toward this goal.

“미국이 하면 우리도 해야지”...핵무기 시험 준비 검토 지시한 푸틴

Maekyung | Local Language | News | Nov. 7, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

On November 5, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin directed senior officials to prepare a proposal regarding the preparation for nuclear weapons tests. This move is seen as a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent announcement suggesting the possibility of resuming nuclear testing for the first time in 33 years. Putin described Trump's announcement as a "serious problem" and emphasized that while Russia has complied with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), it would conduct tests if the United States or other nuclear-armed states resumed theirs.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified that Putin's order was to review the appropriateness of beginning test preparations, not to commence them immediately. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov stated the necessity of being ready for full-scale nuclear tests, highlighting the Arctic test site on Novaya Zemlya as a location where such tests could be conducted swiftly.

President Trump’s announcement, made on Truth Social on October 30, 2025, stated that the U.S. would restart nuclear weapons testing in response to the nuclear capabilities of China and Russia. Trump instructed the Department of Defense to begin testing at the same standards as other countries but expressed reluctance due to the destructive power involved. The National Nuclear Security Administration, under the Department of Energy, is responsible for managing U.S. nuclear weapons.