US, Dec 04 : A senior US diplomat has said that President Donald Trump’s support for South Korea’s ambition to develop nuclear powered, conventionally armed submarines is a “clear example” of deepening defence cooperation aimed at countering growing regional threats.
Jonathan Fritz, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, made the remarks on Wednesday (Washington time) during a forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Korea Foundation. His comments come amid speculation that Trump’s backing may be aimed at strengthening deterrence against an increasingly assertive China.
Fritz emphasised that the fundamentals of the Seoul–Washington alliance remain “stronger than ever,” noting that the two countries are in “complete alignment” on North Korea. He reaffirmed the United States’ “ironclad” extended deterrence commitment to South Korea, according to Yonhap News Agency.
“President Trump also expressed US support for the ROK to build nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines, working together with us to identify and address requirements and challenges,” Fritz said, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.
“This is a clear example of bilateral cooperation that advances our collective capabilities against regional threats.”
Trump confirmed his approval for Seoul’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines after meeting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in October. The move aligns with Washington’s push for allies to enhance defence spending and operational capabilities as part of broader efforts to counter what it labels China’s “pacing threat.”
A recently released fact sheet outlining new bilateral defence and trade agreements highlighted both nations’ commitment to strengthening US conventional deterrence against “all regional threats” language widely interpreted as addressing China’s expanding military influence.
On North Korea, Fritz reiterated that the two allies hold a unified stance:
“We continue to call for the complete denuclearisation of the DPRK,” he said, referring to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“Both Presidents Trump and Lee support meaningful dialogue with the DPRK and have urged Pyongyang to abandon its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.”
Fritz also pointed to enhanced maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, underscoring efforts to uphold international law and maintain regional stability in sensitive areas including the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, though he avoided direct mention of China.
Calling South Korea “absolutely key” to Trump’s broader economic strategy to reindustrialise America, Fritz stressed the need for continued Korean investments in US manufacturing. He noted ongoing efforts to improve the visa process for skilled South Korean workers, following a recent immigration crackdown at a Korean-operated plant in Georgia that resulted in more than 300 detentions.
“President Trump has been very clear that we welcome Koreans to come to our country temporarily to train American workers in high precision jobs,” he said.
He added that both sides have made “great progress” on visa-related issues, including the creation of a Korea Investment and Trade Desk at the US Embassy in Seoul to facilitate specialised travel for Korean personnel supporting major industrial projects in the United States.