President Lee Jae Myung (right) on Oct. 29 welcomes U.S. President Donald Trump after the former's arrival at the Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. (Office of the President)

By Kang Gahui

U.S. President Donald Trump on Oct. 30 approved Korea's bid to build nuclear-powered submarines in his bilateral summit with President Lee Jae Myung on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

Through his account on the social media platform Truth Social, the U.S. leader said, "Our military alliance is stronger than ever before and, based on that, I have given them approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine, rather than the old fashioned, and far less nimble, diesel powered submarines that they have now."

This was interpreted as an immediate response to President Lee's request made on the previous day before the summit for President Trump's decision so that Seoul can secure the fuel needed for such submarines.

After the talks, National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac told a news briefing, "President Trump praised Korea's active role in the alliance and shared understanding of our need for nuclear-powered submarines because North Korea is building them and agreed to further discussions."

kgh89@korea.kr