South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration has approved a basic strategy for the Jangbogo N nuclear-powered submarine project, with work scheduled to begin in 2027. The government will waive the feasibility study that typically takes one to two years, while a domestic shipbuilder is expected to handle integrated submarine development and construction.
The plan calls for building the lead ship in the mid-2030s and putting the submarines into service from the late 2030s onward. The approval establishes the acquisition framework and timetable, but construction has not yet begun.