The Koreans have asked for the ability to have their own nuclear-powered submarines. I think the President has addressed that in the affirmative, that he's willing to work with the Koreans to create some of the nuclear-powered submarines as part of our alliance. Can you give us an update on that?
Support U.S.-ROK discussions on South Korea's interest in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines as part of allied maritime readiness and long-term security cooperation.
Occurrences
Evidence
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Bera's office says he sought an update on ongoing U.S.-ROK discussions about South Korea's interest in nuclear-powered submarines. In the hearing transcript, Bera asked State Department Under Secretary Thomas DiNanno for an update, then requested Congress be kept informed because supporting Korean allies and those capabilities was important.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The White House fact sheet states that the United States approved the ROK building nuclear-powered attack submarines and would work with the ROK on shipbuilding requirements and fuel sourcing. It also frames this under a maritime and nuclear partnership and broader alliance modernization.
Assessments
The promise was to support U.S.-ROK discussions, not to secure final submarine acquisition or construction. During the same federal House term, Bera used a congressional hearing to press a State Department official for an update on South Korea's interest in nuclear-powered submarines and asked that Congress be kept informed, explicitly tying the issue to allied capability and security cooperation. The later White House fact sheet confirms the discussions and policy channel were active, but Bera's fulfilled action was his congressional support and oversight of those discussions.