(LEAD) Majority of Americans support S. Korea's nuclear-powered submarine project: poll

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(ATTN: ADDS expert's quotes in para 6-8) By Chang Dong-woo

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- Nearly six in 10 Americans support South Korea's project to develop nuclear-powered submarines, a survey showed Thursday, while a strong majority oppose Seoul acquiring nuclear weapons.

The survey, conducted jointly by the Washington-based Korea Economic Institute of America and data analytics firm YouGov among 1,207 American adults from Aug. 21-Sept. 1, found that 58 percent supported South Korea's development of nuclear-powered submarines, with 42 percent opposing it.

Support was broadly bipartisan, with 56 percent of self-identifying Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans backing the development of the submarines. Among independents, 62 percent expressed support.

South Korea is pushing to build conventionally armed, nuclear-propelled submarines following security agreements reached during a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in October of last year.

Public support for nuclear-powered submarines, however, did not extend into support for South Korea possessing nuclear weapons, with 71 percent of those polled opposing Seoul developing nuclear weapons.

"I think it's mostly related to the fact that they (respondents) see Korea as an ally," said Karl Friedhoff, who worked as a consultant for the survey, when asked about the reasoning behind the overall support for the nuclear-powered submarine project.

"The more interesting piece is that they are able to differentiate so well between nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear weapons."

Citing the survey, Friedhoff assessed that the American public does not want to see proliferation happen regardless of whether a country is "an ally or whether its an adversary," amid the ongoing debate over Iran and the country's own nuclear weapons program.

The survey also found broadly positive attitudes toward the South Korea-U.S. alliance, with 64 percent saying that the alliance serves American national security interests, including 71 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of Republicans.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) and U.S. President Donald Trump attend a welcome ceremony for the U.S. leader ahead of their talks at the National Museum in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, southeastern South Korea, on Oct. 29, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Also, 56 percent supported either maintaining or increasing the current U.S. troop presence in South Korea, while 71 percent said they would favor using U.S. troops to defend South Korea in the event of a North Korean invasion.

Overall, 68 percent of Americans held a favorable view of South Korea, while 7 percent had an unfavorable view and 25 percent were unsure, according to the survey.

The survey also showed that Americans remain strongly opposed to North Korea retaining its nuclear weapons. It showed that 87 percent said it was important for North Korea to give up its nuclear capabilities, largely unchanged from 85 percent in 2020.

Despite strongly negative views of North Korea, Americans also showed openness to renewed diplomacy with Pyongyang.

Of the respondents, 55 percent supported another summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un under various conditions -- 18 percent supported a meeting without preconditions, while 20 percent favored a summit if the North first agrees to give up its nuclear weapons.

odissy@yna.co.kr (END)

Large majority of Americans believe S. Korea-U.S. alliance is in U.S. security interests

(LEAD) Majority of Americans support S. Korea's nuclear-powered submarine project: poll

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（注：第6-8段新增专家引述）作者：张东宇

华盛顿，10 月 8 日（韩联社）——周四公布的一项调查显示，近六成美国人支持韩国发展核动力潜艇的项目，而绝大多数人反对首尔获得核武器。

这项由位于华盛顿的美国韩国经济研究所和数据分析公司 YouGov 联合进行的调查于 8 月 21 日至 9 月 1 日期间进行，调查对象为 1207 名美国成年人。调查发现，58% 的人支持韩国发展核动力潜艇，42% 的人反对。

支持率总体上跨越了党派界限，56%的自称民主党人和64%的共和党人支持潜艇的研发。在独立选民中，62%的人表示支持。

继去年10月韩国总统李在明与美国总统唐纳德·特朗普举行峰会并达成安全协议后，韩国正大力推进建造常规武装核动力潜艇。

然而，公众对核动力潜艇的支持并没有延伸到对韩国拥有核武器的支持，71% 的受访者反对首尔发展核武器。

“我认为这主要与他们（受访者）将韩国视为盟友有关，”卡尔·弗里德霍夫（Karl Friedhoff）在被问及对核动力潜艇项目总体支持的原因时说道。他曾担任该调查的顾问。

“更有意思的是，他们能够如此准确地区分核动力潜艇和核武器。”

弗里德霍夫引用调查结果评估认为，在当前关于伊朗及其核武器计划的争论中，无论一个国家是“盟友还是对手”，美国公众都不希望看到核扩散发生。

调查还发现，人们对韩美同盟普遍持积极态度，64% 的人表示该同盟符合美国的国家安全利益，其中包括 71% 的民主党人和 73% 的共和党人。

2025年10月29日，韩国总统李在明（右）和美国总统唐纳德·特朗普在韩国东南部庆尚北道庆州市国立博物馆出席欢迎仪式，随后将举行会谈。（联社照片）（韩联社）

此外，56%的人支持维持或增加目前驻韩美军的数量，而71%的人表示，如果朝鲜入侵韩国，他们会赞成使用美军保卫韩国。

调查显示，总体而言，68%的美国人对韩国持好感，7%的人持负面看法，25%的人表示不确定。

调查还显示，美国民众仍然强烈反对朝鲜保留核武器。87%的受访者认为朝鲜放弃核能力至关重要，这一比例与2020年的85%基本持平。

尽管美国人对朝鲜持有强烈的负面看法，但他们也表现出对与平壤重启外交的开放态度。

在受访者中，55%的人支持美国总统唐纳德·特朗普和朝鲜领导人金正恩在各种条件下再次举行峰会——18%的人支持无条件会晤，而20%的人赞成如果朝鲜首先同意放弃核武器就举行峰会。

odissy@yna.co.kr (完)

绝大多数美国人认为美韩同盟符合美国的安全利益。

（导语）民调显示，大多数美国人支持韩国的核动力潜艇项目。