Rewriting the Nuclear Rules Between Washington and Seoul | Ep. 31

South Korea wants nuclear-powered submarines, enrichment capabilities, and a bigger role in the global nuclear energy market. But the terms of its nuclear relationship with the United States are not built to support these goals. Toby Dalton, Senior Fellow and Co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, breaks down the nuclear policy questions at the center of the U.S.-Korea relationship with KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder. They explore why Seoul sees a revised agreement as key to advancing its civilian nuclear program, and whether reviving the long-dormant bilateral commission between the two countries can help close the gap on nuclear capabilities. On enrichment, Dalton walks through the question of whether it must happen on Korean soil, what ownership models might be on the table, and why the enrichment market could look completely different in just a few years. The conversation turns to reprocessing, a lane where U.S.-Korea cooperation looks more promising and Washington is more receptive, before tackling private sector disputes that continue to prevent deeper partnership. Dalton also explains why separating nuclear-powered submarine construction from civilian nuclear objectives may pose unique challenges, why the Philadelphia shipyard is likely not a contender for where Korea's submarine gets built, and what nuclear latency means for the future of the alliance.

Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more!

Social Links:

Website: https://keia.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]