the ministry of national defense's release of the republic of korea's nuclear-powered submarine initiative is significant in that it has elevated the nuclear-powered submarine debate to the level of official state policy. the korean government has x-framed the nuclear-powered submarine as a national strategic project that spans national security, strategic technology, industrial capacity, international cooperation, and regional policy. its basic direction includes low-enriched uranium-based fuel, domestic development and construction, adherence to international nonproliferation principles, nuclear safety and security, and industrial development at the national level. by setting the goal of launching the first submarine in the mid-2030s, the government has made clear that the project has entered the implementation phase.

discussion of the special act should therefore focus on translating this policy direction into a legal and institutional x-framework capable of practical implementation. the special act should be designed as a comprehensive statute that integrates the implementation system, safety regulation, allocation of authority, financial support, nuclear fuel management, and community acceptance. it should establish a standing whole-of-government implementation system, an independent safety regulatory x-framework specialized for military reactors, principles for low-enriched uranium-based fuel procurement and spent fuel management, civilian-military role allocation, and a dual x-framework for security and information disclosure.

to ensure the project’s sustainability as a national strategic undertaking, the act should also provide for long-term financial investment,  industrial ecosystem development, specialized personnel training, base infrastructure construction, and community acceptance. accordingly, it should incorporate a special account or long-term financial management system, project management exceptions and good-faith performance immunity for participating firms, supply-chain development and strategic component localization, a specialized personnel training system, local support and safety monitoring, and a phased roadmap. in sum, the special act should consolidate policy principles, organizational arrangements, safety and security, finance and industry, and community acceptance and infrastructure into a single implementation x-framework, thereby establishing the nuclear-powered submarine program as a national project that strengthens deterrence against the north korean nuclear threat while also fostering advanced strategic industries.