Virginia-class nuclear submarineThe Korean Ministry of National Defense (MnD) today revealed a draft bill on nuclear-powered submarines to create a legislative framework to build the submarines in cooperation with the United States. Korea’s nuclear-powered submarines project was cleared following the summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in October. Key provisions of the bill:The nuclear-powered submarine program is not intended to develop, manufacture or possess nuclear weapons. It also commits to ensuring public safety and environmental protection from radioactive materials and establishing safety standards for the submarines. "The nuclear-powered submarine [program] marks the first case in which a weapon system is integrated with nuclear energy," a Defense Ministry official was quoted as saying by koreajoongangdaily.