Seoul: China's ambassador to South Korea expressed concern over the country's pursuit of a nuclear-powered submarine, local media reported Friday. During a news conference Thursday, Dai Bing said the issue is directly related to the international nuclear nonproliferation regime and could impact regional stability, Yonhap News Agency reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, Dai emphasized that the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region remains complex and sensitive. He highlighted that South Korea's cooperation with the United States on nuclear-powered submarines is a matter directly tied to the global nuclear nonproliferation regime and regional stability.

During his visit to South Korea last month, US President Donald Trump announced that his administration would share nuclear propulsion technologies with South Korea, enabling its navy to construct at least one nuclear-powered submarine. Following this, South Korea's Defense Ministry declared its intention to launch a nuclear-powered submarine developed with domestic technology by the mid-to-late 2030s.

The White House has approved South Korea's plans to build nuclear-powered attack submarines, committing to collaborate closely with Seoul on the project, including fuel sourcing, as detailed in a joint fact sheet released on November 13.

Dai further cautioned that the ongoing efforts by South Korea and the US to modernize their alliance should not be extended with the aim of containing China. Addressing speculation about US Forces Korea potentially being mobilized to respond to any emergency situation regarding Taiwan, he reiterated China's stance against external interference. He expressed hope that the South Korea-US alliance would avoid exacerbating tensions on the Taiwan issue.