In response to China’s opposition to nuclear submarines, the government retorts, “Our nuclear submarines are in compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

When China objected to Korea’s push to introduce nuclear (nuclear) propulsion submarines by citing “non-proliferation obligations,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs countered on the 31st, saying, “What we are seeking to develop and operate are conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, and this is in line with the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons).”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on this day, “Our country is fully fulfilling its NPT obligations,” and “our government’s commitment to its NPT obligations is unwavering.” He added, “We will cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) while respecting the NPT while pursuing the introduction of conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines.”

The statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this day was largely a rebuttal to the position expressed by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs the previous day. Regarding South Korea’s push for nuclear submarines, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jia-kun said, “We are monitoring the situation,” and added, “China hopes South Korea and the United States will faithfully fulfill their nuclear non-proliferation obligations and do things that promote regional peace and stability, and not the other way around.”

Regardless of whether the non-proliferation obligation was violated, some point out that it is unusual in itself for the foreign ministries of the two countries to appear to be exchanging arguments on this topic during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Korea.