Korea's nuclear sub plan gains favor in Tokyo amid rising China tensions: Japanese expert

South Korea's plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines appears to be viewed favorably in Japan, according to a Japanese security analyst who spent 16 years at the defense ministry. The analyst says that the move could help counter China's growing undersea presence and expand security cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo. Hirohito Ogi, a senior research fellow at the Tokyo-based Institute of Geoeconomics, offered a favorable view regarding South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear submarines, viewing the development as strategically beneficial for Japan. This public endorsement from a defense analyst in Tokyo highlights a strategic alignment on deterring regional instability, even as South Korea seeks to maintain a cautious balance between its security partnership with Washington and critical economic ties to Beijing. "I personally think South Korea acquiring nuclear submarines for undersea defense would be a welcome development for Japan. Such capabilities could serve as a counterbalance to China's submarines," Ogi said during an interview with Korean reporters in Tokyo earlier this month. SeoWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times