Washington:Nearly six in 10 Americans support South Korea's initiative to develop nuclear-powered submarines, according to a recent survey, while a significant majority oppose Seoul's acquisition of nuclear weapons.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the survey was conducted by the Korea Economic Institute of America and YouGov, polling 1,207 American adults between August 21 and September 1. It found that 58 percent supported South Korea's development of nuclear-powered submarines, while 42 percent were against it. Support for the project was strong across political lines, with 56 percent of Democrats, 64 percent of Republicans, and 62 percent of independents in favor.
South Korea's push for conventionally armed, nuclear-propelled submarines follows security agreements made during a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in October of the previous year. However, public support for nuclear-powered submarines does not extend to nuclear weapons, with 71 percent of respondents opposing South Korea's development of nuclear arms.
Karl Friedhoff, a consultant for the survey, suggested that the support for submarines is linked to viewing South Korea as an ally. He noted that the American public distinguishes between nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear weapons, reflecting a broader desire to prevent nuclear proliferation, whether involving allies or adversaries.
The survey also highlighted positive attitudes towards the South Korea-U.S. alliance, with 64 percent of Americans believing it serves U.S. national security interests. This includes 71 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of Republicans. Furthermore, 56 percent supported either maintaining or increasing the U.S. military presence in South Korea, and 71 percent favored using U.S. troops to defend South Korea if invaded by North Korea.
Overall, 68 percent of Americans held a favorable view of South Korea, while 7 percent had an unfavorable view and 25 percent were unsure. The survey showed continued strong opposition to North Korea's nuclear weapons, with 87 percent considering it important for North Korea to relinquish its nuclear capabilities, consistent with past survey results.
Despite negative perceptions of North Korea, 55 percent of respondents expressed support for another summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, under specific conditions. Of these, 18 percent supported a meeting without preconditions, while 20 percent favored a summit if North Korea agreed to disarm its nuclear arsenal first.