A South Korean foreign ministry official told reporters on June 9 that during U.S.-South Korea talks on June 2-3, the South Korean side noted that it would build a nuclear-powered submarine in South Korea using local technology, and the official added that the U.S. side did not raise objections. The U.S. State Department's readout of the June 2-3 meetings was brief, noting only that the two aimed to "accelerate future consultations" and pursue "tangible outcomes" quickly.

The U.S.-South Korea meetings on June 2-3 included foreign affairs and national security officials discussing their plans for South Korea to build and field a nuclear-powered submarine, a joint initiative announced in October 2025.