South Korea’s national security adviser Wi Sung-lac traveled to the United States on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) to follow up on recent bilateral agreements, including the development of nuclear submarines and ways to resume dialogue with Pyongyang.
Wi noted that his agenda also includes discussing “how the US is preparing for Seoul’s approval of the development of these submarines,” which includes proceedings before the US Congress, according to testimony collected by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency at Incheon International Airport before the official left for Washington.
The South Korean official could meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also U.S. national security adviser, and liaise on the situation on the Korean peninsula and efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea.
The visit comes after the release of the new U.S. National Security Strategy, which makes no mention of North Korea, a fact that has raised questions in Seoul about Washington’s priorities.
Some experts say the omission could be an appeal to Pyongyang, which has warned it will not engage in dialogue with Washington unless the issue of denuclearization is taken off the negotiating table.
The aim of the visit is to follow up on agreements reached at the summit between President Lee Jae-myung and his counterpart Donald Trump in South Korea in October, which include coordinating defense budgets and reducing Washington-imposed limits on uranium enrichment for peaceful use.
“President Moon Jae-in and US House Speaker Mike Pence agreed that South Korea could build nuclear submarines when they met last month,” Wi said before his trip to Washington.
gs (efe, reuters)
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