Trump ally calls limits on S. Korea nuclear access ‘strategic mistake'

May 5 (Asia Today) -- A close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump has argued that restricting South Korea's access to nuclear technology is a "strategic mistake," calling for expanded cooperation between the two countries.

According to a report released Tuesday by the Institute for National Security Strategy, Fred Fleitz, a former chief of staff of the National Security Council during Trump's first administration and vice chair of the America First Policy Institute, made the recommendation in a policy brief.

Fleitz noted that North Korea has amassed roughly 50 nuclear weapons in violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and said limiting South Korea's access to nuclear-related technology under such conditions undermines effective deterrence.

"Restricting South Korea's access to necessary nuclear technology while North Korea advances is not a responsible nonproliferation policy but a strategic miscalculation," he said.

He added that South Korea, despite being the world's fifth-largest nuclear power operator, remains the only country of its scale that lacks uranium enrichment capability and relies entirely on external sources for nuclear fuel.

Fleitz argued that denying full access to the nuclear fuel cycle to a close U.S. ally is inconsistent, noting that countries such as Japan, Germany and Brazil possess enrichment or reprocessing capabilities under safeguards by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

He proposed revising the bilateral nuclear agreement using a framework similar to AUKUS, which would allow for expanded cooperation while maintaining safety, security and nonproliferation standards.

Fleitz also suggested that transferring U.S. naval nuclear propulsion technology to South Korea could accelerate the development of nuclear-powered submarines based on the country's existing KSS-III design, improving cost efficiency and timelines.

He further called for broader cooperation, including support for reactor design, nuclear fuel cycle development and next-generation technologies such as small modular reactors.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260505010000619

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This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 9:16 PM.