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// DOSSIER — trump-south-korean-president-lee-bilateral-summit-nuclear
Trump and South Korean President Lee Hold Bilateral Summit on Nuclear Submarines, OPCON, and Shipbuilding
REL_TIME: 25 Sep 2026 07:13Z · LANG: EN
During the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held an unannounced 30-minute summit on September 22, 2026. The meeting advanced talks on key defense initiatives, including Seoul's pursuit of nuclear-powered attack submarines, uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing rights, the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), and expanded bilateral shipbuilding cooperation. Trump reaffirmed an openness to diplomacy with North Korea, while Pyongyang condemned the allied nuclear propulsion cooperation as an aggressive expansion of AUKUS-style proliferation and conducted a missile test.
// Background
South Korea has long sought nuclear-powered attack submarines to counter regional threats, which requires enriched uranium reactor fuel and bilateral nuclear pact adjustments with Washington. Tensions are amplified by parallel geopolitical pressures, including U.S. naval capacity constraints, U.S. demands for nonproliferation compliance concerning Iran's enrichment, and past friction over Washington pressuring Seoul to join coalition efforts in the Strait of Hormuz.
// Key Developments
- Trump and Lee discussed South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered attack submarines using low-enriched uranium fuel and related enrichment and reprocessing rights.
- President Lee directly raised accelerating the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), marking the first leaders-level discussion on establishing a target completion year.
- President Trump expressed strong interest in bilateral shipbuilding cooperation, including South Korea's capacity to build warships needed by the U.S. Navy.
- The summit came together rapidly following breakthrough progress on strategic investment negotiations, including an implementation plan for a $350 billion package.
- Trump signaled continued willingness to engage in dialogue with Kim Jong Un, while North Korea denounced the talks as 'AUKUS 2.0' and tested a new-type missile.
- Neither leader brought up the contentious issue of South Korean troop deployment to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during the meeting.
// Timeline
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Trump raises warship construction capabilities with Lee during the Group of Seven leaders' dinner in Evian, France.
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North Korea conducts a successful test of a new weapon system, later reported to be the Hwasong-11Ma hypersonic missile.
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Lee Jae Myung addresses the UN General Assembly on peace and supply route security; bilateral investment negotiations achieve breakthrough progress.
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Trump and Lee hold a 30-minute bilateral summit on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly reception in New York.
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The 58th Security Consultative Meeting in Washington is scheduled to evaluate Full Operational Capability for OPCON transfer.
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The Group of 20 summit in Miami, Florida, is slated as a potential venue for a follow-up meeting between Trump and Lee.
// Perspectives
[South Korea]
Pushes to expedite nuclear submarine development, secure uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing capabilities, and complete OPCON transfer by increasing defense spending and independent capabilities.
[United States]
Supports South Korea's defense enhancements, prioritizes South Korean commercial and naval shipbuilding assistance for U.S. defense needs, and maintains openness to diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang.
[North Korea]
Condemns the transfer of nuclear propulsion technology to Seoul as a dangerous regional expansion of AUKUS, justifying the continuous qualitative and quantitative expansion of its nuclear arsenal.
[China]
Critiques regional nuclear propulsion transfers as an arms race catalyst that disrupts strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific.
// Quotes
“bolster up its nuclear war deterrent means both in quality and quantity without the slightest stagnation and stalemate.”
“To acquire such a technology is of weighty significance in the state’s readiness for war and the future development of the armed forces.”
“Can you build ten warships quickly?”
