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South Korea’s Undersea Dilemma: Why SSNs and UUVs Must Work Together

South Korea confronts simultaneous undersea threats from North Korea’s emerging SLBM‑capable submarines, a potential Taiwan crisis that could stretch U.S. and Japanese naval assets, and an increasingly active Russian presence via the Northern Sea Route. The author argues that choosing between nuclear‑powered attack submarines (SSNs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) is a false dilemma; instead, a layered force that integrates both is required. SSNs would deliver blue‑water endurance and independent deterrence, while UUVs would provide cheap, persistent surveillance and strike options in coastal waters. This combined approach aims to safeguard sea lines of communication and reduce reliance on allied forces.