- The US currently possesses the largest nuclear arsenal
- S’Korea has been authorized to develop its own nuclear-powered submarines
- Since 1992, the US has not conducted nuclear explosive tests
United States President Donald Trump announced that he has instructed the Department of Defense to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing, citing the need to maintain parity with other nuclear-armed nations.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the announcement came shortly before he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan, South Korea.
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Trump, writing on his Truth Social platform, emphasized that while the US currently possesses the largest nuclear arsenal, China is rapidly expanding its stockpile and could rival the US within five years.
“I have instructed the Department of War [Defense] to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately,” he stated, though it remains unclear whether this refers to missile flight tests or nuclear explosive tests.
In a separate development, Trump confirmed that South Korea has been authorized to develop its own nuclear-powered submarines following successful trade discussions with President Lee Jae Myung.
The move would allow Seoul to replace its older diesel-powered submarines and join a select group of nations with nuclear propulsion, including the US, China, Russia, the UK, France, and India.
The US-South Korea nuclear agreement currently restricts uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent fuel. Lee indicated that lifting these limitations would enable South Korea to fuel submarines with conventional weapons while reducing reliance on American forces.
China has been increasing its nuclear warheads by about 100 per year since 2023, with projections suggesting over 1,000 operational warheads by 2030.
The US maintains approximately 5,550 warheads, of which 3,800 are active. Since 1992, the US has not conducted nuclear explosive tests, following a moratorium established after the Cold War.
Trump’s announcements mark a major shift in US nuclear policy and a significant step in expanding South Korea’s naval capabilities.
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